GenSan Warriors

GenSan Warriors
League	MVBA (2005–2008) NBC (2007–2008) Liga Pilipinas (2008–2011) MPBL (2018–present)
Founded	2005;19 years ago (2005)
History	GenSan MP PacMan Warriors (2005–2008) MP-Gensan Warriors (2008–2011) GenSan Warriors (2018–2023) South Cotabato Warriors (2024–present)
Arena	Lagao Gymnasium
Location	General Santos, South Cotabato
Team colors
Head coach	Jesus Ramon Pido

The GenSan Warriors, also known as the General Santos Warriors, are a Filipino professional basketball team based in General Santos, South Cotabato. The team currently competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as one of two teams besed in the Soccsksargen region, the other team being the Sarangani Marlins, playing their home games at Lagao Gymnasium.

The team began play in the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) from 2005 to 2008 as the GenSan MP PacMan Warriors. They have joined mutliple other leagues since: the National Basketball Conference (NBC) from 2007 to 2008, Liga Pilipinas from 2008 to 2011 as MP-GenSan Warriors, and now the MPBL in the 2018–19 season. "MP" references Manny Pacquiao, who currently resides in the city.

In preparation for the 2024 MPBL season, the team is bound to change its name to South Cotabato Warriors, representing the entire province, not just the city.

History

First incarnation (2005–2011)

The team was founded in 2005, originally as part of the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA), as well as part of the National Basketball Conference (NBC) in 2007. General Santos then became part of Liga Pilipinas in 2008 following the merger of both leagues alongside Third Force Inc. Liga Pilipinas ceased opeartions in 2011, leaving the team dormant until 2018.

Second incarnation (2018–present)

The team joined the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League as part of the league's national expansion in the 2018–19 season, becoming the league's first representative from the Soccsksargen region. ^[1] Led by homegrown player Cris Masaglang, the team finished 4th in the South Division with 14–11 record. In the playoffs, the Warriors would be swept by the fifth-seeded Bacoor City Strikers in the First Round. General Santos then added Robby Celiz and John Raymundo into the roster for the 2019–20 MPBL season. Despite those additions and improving to 18–12, GenSan only finished seventh. Once again, the team was swept by second-seeded Bacoor City. ^[2]

Both Celiz and Raymundo would depart from the team before the 2022 season, while also adding Nikko Panganiban. Panganiban would be declared an all-star as the Warriors once again improved, going 15–6 and finishing 4th in the South. The team would unfortunately suffer its third straight first-round exit after losing in three games to the Mark Yee-led Bacolod Bingo Plus. ^[3] Panganiban would leave for San Juan, while the team added 2020 MVP John Wilson from the Pilipinas Super League's Davao Occidental Tigers. Alongside Wilson is Kyt Jimenez, coming off his rookie season with region rivals Sarangani. ^[4] The 2023 season would be the team's most successful as it stands, finishing 21–7, improving their record yet again and breaking into the top three in its division for the first time. Wilson and Jimenez were both declared all-stars while Masaglang would win the Homegrown Player of the Year award. That season also saw the team's first-ever playoff series win, beating the Muntinlupa Cagers in three games in the First Round before losing to the Batangas City Embassy Chill in three during the Division Semifinals. ^{[5] [6]}

Heading into the 2024 season, the team will be without Jimenez, who was drafted and signed by the San Miguel Beermen in the PBA Season 48 draft. Another change coming is with its location identifier, which could see the team being renamed to the South Cotabato Warriors.

Current roster

GenSan Warriors roster v t e
Players	Coaches
Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB From 3 Cosip, Jimuel G 4 Elorde, Nico  (EP) 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 155 lb (70 kg) 1991–10–04 Ateneo F 5 Rodriguez, Larry  (EP) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1983–05–05 PMI G 8 Masaglang, Christopher  (HG) 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 1990–09–08 Holy Trinity G 9 Cruz, Mark  (EP) 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) 150 lb (68 kg) 1992–07–27 Letran C 10 Fajarito, Christian 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) Letran G 11 Wilson, John  (EP) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1987–01–18 José Rizal 12 Pacquiao, Michael F 13 Mahaling, Delmar  (HG) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Holy Trinity F 14 Sorela, Michole 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) San Beda G 15 Joson, Antonio Lorenzo 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) NU F 16 Orbeta, John  (HG) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Sta. Monica F 18 Mondragon, Hafer 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Letran F 20 Cruz, Jervy  (EP) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1986–09–09 UST F 21 Alvarez, Rich  (EP) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1980–10–30 Ateneo 23 Alvarez, Michael G 27 Landicho, Meylan 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 1989–01–16 Holy Trinity F/C 40 Apreku, Felix 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 1991–12–06 Letran F 41 Gonzales, Christian  (SGL) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) F/C 67 Pacquiao, Rene  (EP) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 1986–09–12	Head coach Jesus Ramon Pido Assistant coach(es) Rich Alvarez John Eric Coronado Peter Deligero James Bartolome Team manager Mermann Flores Legend (EP) Ex-PBA (HG) Homegrown (FF) Filipino-foreigner (SGL) Special Guest Licensee Injured Roster – via Genius Sports

Head coaches

GenSan Warriors head coaches

2018–present
#	Name	Start	End	Regular Season				Playoffs				Best Finish	Achievements
				GC	W	L	Win%	GC	W	L	Win%
1	Jesus Ramon Pido	2018	present	0	0	0	–	0	0	0	–

Notable players

Liga Pilipinas

• Jasper Callo
• John Eric Coronado
• Peter Deligero
• Noberto Farochillen
• Alfred John Gonzaga
• Bob Cozy Ilanga
• Jeffy Locsin
• Louie Benn Medalla
• Moorice Mejorada
• Donamar Mendoza
• Jay-R Olegario
• Bobby Pacquiao
• Manny Pacquiao
• Roderick Ramos
• Jethron Recustodio
• Abdul Fariq Dave Sagad
• Donald Tadena

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

GenSan Warriors notable players
Player	Position	Tenure	Awards	All-Star
Cris Masaglang		2018–present	1x Homegrown Player of the Year (2023)	2 (2019, 2022)
Robby Celiz		2019–2020	—	1 (2020)
John Raymundo		2019–2020	1x All-MPBL Second Team (2020)	—
Nikko Panganiban		2022	—	1 (2022)
Kyt Jimenez		2023	—	1 (2023)
John Wilson		2023–present	—	1 (2023)

Season-by-season records

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

Records as of 2023 MPBL playoffs – Division Semifinals:

Season	Team name	Elimination round					Playoffs
		Division	Finish	W	L	PCT	Stage	Results
2018–19 Datu Cup	GenSan Warriors	South	4th/13	14	11	.560	First Round	lost vs. Bacoor City, 0–2
2019–20 Lakan Cup			7th/15	18	12	.600	First Round	lost vs. Bacoor City, 0–2
2022 Mumbaki Cup			4th/11	15	6	.714	First Round	lost vs. Bacolod, 1–2
2023			3rd/14	21	7	.750	First Round Division Semifinals	won vs. Muntinlupa, 2–1 lost vs. Batangas City, 1–2
Total elimination round				68	36	.654	4 playoff appearances
Total playoffs				4	9	.308	0 Finals appearances
Total franchise				72	45	.615	0 championships

Invitational records

Season	Team name	Elimination round					Playoffs
		Division	Finish	W	L	PCT	Stage	Results
2021	GenSan Warriors	Group D	6th/6	0	5	.000	Did not qualify
2023		Group B	3rd/4	1	2	.333	Did not qualify
Total elimination round				1	7	.125	0 playoff appearances
Total playoffs				0	0	–	0 Finals appearances
Total franchise				1	7	.125	0 championships

References

1. Luarca, Roy (June 12, 2018). "MPBL: Expansion teams, new faces and stars headline Datu Cup curtain-raiser". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
2. "Bacoor Strikers rip GenSan with Pacquiao watching to move on cusp of MPBL semis". Spin.ph. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
3. Co, Adrian Stewart (November 7, 2022). "Bacolod edges GenSan, enters MPBL south semis". Panay News. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
4. "Jervy Cruz joins Kyt Jimenez at GenSan Warriors in MPBL". Spin.ph. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
5. "GenSan trounces Muntinlupa, tackles Batangas in semifinals". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
6. "MPBL: Batangas ousts GenSan, sets up rematch with Bacoor in South finals". Spin.ph. Retrieved January 12, 2024.