The GenSan Warriors turned hot in the fourth quarter and went on to dump the Quezon Huskers, 89-71, in the OKBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Fifth Season late Friday at the Baliwag Star Arena in Bulacan.
The Warriors kept in step with the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, who shook off a flat start to rout the Negros Muscovados, 94-72, in the opener.
Ahead, 65-61, GenSan blitzed Quezon, pouring 20 points, including 10 by Mark Cruz and five by Jervy Cruz, against only four by the Huskers to seal their 10th win against four losses in the single round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
Enzo Joson added a triple and John Wilson a layup in that decisive barrage that sent the Huskers down to 10-5.
Wilson ended up with 23 points, four steals, three rebounds and three assists for coach Rich Alvarez, who drew 20 points and eight rebounds from Jervy Cruz, 19 points, five assists and four rebounds from Mark Cruz, and 11 points plus seven assists and three rebounds from Nico Elorde.
Quezon, which missed the services of the injured Will Gozum, Jeric Teng and Prince Rivero, got 15 points plus five rebounds from Raffy Verano and 12 points plus four assists from Alvin Abundo.
Left behind, 2-22, by Negros, Nueva Ecija steadily worked its way back, then took control after the third quarter, 71-63, and never wavered en route to a 14-1 record, right behind Pampanga, which totes a perfect 14-0 slate.
Flaunting their depth and strength, 14 of the 15 players fielded by Coach Jerson Cabiltes managed to score, with new acquisition Sherwin Concepcion showing the way with 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Stephen Siruma contributed 11 points, while Jonathan Uyloan, Michael Mabulac and Orin Catacutan, another recruit, chipped in nine points each.
Towering Kemark Carino also made his presence felt with eight points, including a triple, and four rebounds in a 12-minute stint.
Negros tumbled to 5-11 with only Jun Manzo and Bernie Bregondo finding their mark with 19 and 14 points, respectively.
Muntinlupa pounced on listless Bulacan, 78-61, to complete a day of mismatches.
Powered by veteran Val Acuna, the Muntinlupa Cagers led throughout and by as many as 21 points, 27-6, to rise to 9-6.
Acuna fired 15 points, laced with three triples, as Muntinlupa handed Bulacan its sixth straight defeat in a 6-10 card.
