Eusebio debuts with a bang for Gensan in win over Bacolod
MANILA, Philippines — Gensan and Quezon City sustained their climb while Mindoro rebounded in the 2026 MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Preseason Invitational on Wednesday at the Marikina Sports Center.
The Gensan Warriors unleashed a prime recruit and battered the Bacolod Masskara, 112-74, in the nightcap to keep in step with the Quezon City Black Bulls, who survived the Bataan Risers, 80-79, in the opener.
The Mindoro Tamaraws trounced the Sarangani 10ACT Marlins, 112-92, in the second game of the nine-team Group A elimination round triple-bill.
Quezon City and Gensan extended their winning run to three, although the Black Bulls hold a better 4-2 record than the Warriors' 3-2 in the two-group, 18-team event preceding the MPBL Eighth Season.
The Warriors, however, have gotten stronger with the acquisition of Filipino-Canadian Anton Eusebio from the College of St. Benilde Blazers and the return of gunner Kyle Tolentino.
The 6-foot-5 Eusebio pooled 19 points, nine rebounds and three steals in 23 minutes and 42 seconds of play and earned Best Player honors in his first game as a pro. He edged Mark Cruz, who finished with 20 points, highlighted by six triples; and Louie Vigil, who tallied 15 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and two steals.
Tolentino contributed 13 points, five rebounds and two assists for the Warriors, who pulled away 86-45 to hand the Bacolodnons their fourth defeat against one win.
Adven Diputado scored 15, Hance Lleva 14, and Jeremy Cruz and Arvie Bringas 13 each for Bacolod.
Powered by Marion Magat, the Tamaraws led from the start and stormed ahead at 87-56, late in the third quarter, before coasting to a 3-3 slate.
The 6-foot-7 Magat had 17 points and 10 rebounds and was chosen the Best Player over Jayvee Dela Cruz, who posted 11 points and five rebounds; Joseph Sedurifa, who finished with 10 points, four rebounds and two assists; and Fil-Am Ashon Andrews, who registered 10 points, four rebounds and two assists.
Sarangani skidded to 0-6 despite Larce Sunga's 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists; Coy Alves' 15 points, six rebounds and two blocks; and Carl Bryan Lacap's 13 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
The Black Bulls rallied from a 63-75 deficit and banked on a short jumper by Jake Agoncillo with 7.1 seconds left to nip the Risers and climb to 4-3.
MJ Joson shone for Quezon City with 16 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and two steals, and so did Pat Buena with 16 points, four assists and three rebounds. Agoncillo finished with nine points and seven rebounds.
Bataan tumbled to 1-5 despite the double-digit outputs of Hubert Cani and four other Risers.
Cani tallied 14 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals; homegrown Dante Paguio 11 points and three rebounds; and Carl Bringas, Yves Sazon and Chris Javier with 10 points each.
The preseason goes to the Caloocan Sports Complex on Thursday, with games pitting Muntinlupa against Marikina at 3 p.m.; Pasay against Quezon Province at 5 p.m.; and Zamboanga SiKat against Caloocan at 7 p.m.
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