Batangas, Gensan boost chase for South’s 2nd spot

The Batangas City Tanduay Athletics and the Gensan Warriors hurdled separate rivals on Friday to remain in contention for the No. 2 playoff slot in the South division of the SportsPlus Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League 2026 Season at the Orion Sports Complex in Bataan.

Batangas trounced Quezon City, 70-54, in the second game while Gensan thwarted Bataan, 96-89, in the nightcap of another triple-bill in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 26-team tournament.

Dominating the boards, 51-30, Batangas, with Ino Comboy at the helm, led by as many as 51-30, before cruising to its 18th win in 23 starts.

Comboy posted 17 points and 4 rebounds, followed by Ced Ablaza with 15 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and three steals; and Jeckster Apinan with 13 points, eight rebounds and two assists.

Quezon City, which drew 15 points from Kobe Monje and 12 from Aaron Baguno, slid to 10-14 but is assured of a stint in the North division play-in among the teams ranked seventh to 10th after the eliminations.

Gensan detonated a 15-2 bomb, highlighted by Marwin Dionisio’s nine straight points, to cut loose, 89-76, en route to a 17-5 slate.