By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Gensan Warriors turned hot in the third quarter and torched the Negros Hacienderos, 102-74, to share top spot in the SportsPlus Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2026 Season at the Ynares Center in Montalban, Rizal on Wednesday, May 20.

Ahead by five at the break, the Warriors banked on Nelo Santos, Adi Santos and Hesed Gabo to pull away, 74-51, and extend their winning streak to eight in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 28-team tournament.

Gensan caught up with the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo and widened its gap from Quezon Province (5-0) in the chase for playoff spots.

The 6-foot-1 Nelo, a prized find from the University of Makati, pumped in nine of his 12 points.

Adi and Gabo notched six each of their 14 points as the Warriors outscored the Hacienderos, 34-16, in that pivotal third.

Gabo also posted nine assists, three rebounds and two steals to be named the SportsPlus best player over Adi, with five rebounds, and Nelo, with seven rebounds and two assists.

Other Warriors who delivered were Val Acuna and JM Versoza, with 11 points and five rebounds each; Marwin Dionisio, with nine points, 10 rebounds and four assists; and Joshua Fontanilla, with nine points, seven assists and five rebounds.

Negros, which dropped to 0-6, got 18 points, six rebounds and two assists from Michael Alvarez; 13 points and three rebounds from Brandney Bienes; and nine points, 12 rebounds and five assists from DJ Howe./ASC, WDJ