MP-GenSan went into scoring rampage in the second half to pull away with a huge victory that could place them at the top of the standing in the Mindanao Division.
The Warriors of Filipino ring idol blasted a 15-2 run for a 67-47 lead to end the third period and never looked back to notch their fourth win in eight outings in the tournament wherein top teams in each division will earn a bye into the best-of-three division finals.
Center Arian Daja converted an open lay up following Rolly Menor's superb blockshot on the Agilas fastbreak play that fired up the huge run in the 3:32 mark of the third period.
Apple Coronado topscored with 19 points for the Warriors, who outrebounded and outhussled the Agilas all game long.
Menor and Daja, who overpowered the Agilas frontline, had 12 and 9 points respectively.
Playmaker Louie Medalla chipped in 10 markers, including a three pointer that gave the Warriors a 47-43 lead with 7:37 left in the third.
The Agilas, who dropped to 1-7 record, are expected not to leave any stone unturned to take a revenge as they face the Warriors again on Nov. 15 in Koronadal City.
John Gonzaga paced the Agilas with 20 points.
The Ramon Pido mentored MP-GenSan climbed its lead to 26, 75-49 following Coronado's short jumper in the early going of the final period.
But the Agilas made a last-ditch surge behind the excellent plays of Bob Couzy Ilanga after Pido pulled out his starting unit.
Ilanga scored 8 straight points of his total 18 in the come back run to trim down the deficit to 13, 71-84, with 2:13 left.
The rally did not stop there as Milfred Sampilo drilled a triple to pull down the edge to single digit, 76-85, but it was the closest they reached as time was running out for them.
Sampilo had 8 points. Buboy Berami, who anchored the Agilas offense with 22 on their 85-83 victory over Arthro Kontra Athritis of Cebu on Friday, finished the game with 10 points.
The Agilas played excellent basketball in the opening canto, taking a 21-17 lead after 10 minutes of play.
Banking on Coronado's 13 second quarter points, the Warriors took a 42-37 advantage at the half.
With the top teams in each division taking a bye into the best-of-three division finals, the remaining two teams will slug it out in a separate best-of-three wildcard series with the winner advancing to the division finals.
The Visayas and Mindanao Division champions will meet in another best-of-three affair for the championship of the tournament sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP) and made possible by ML Kwarta Padala, Nature’s Spring Water, Sulpicio Lines, Accel, Cokaliong Shipping, Reva Sandals, Gameface.Ph and Nike Basketball.