{{short description|Professional basketball team in General Santos, Philippines}} {{Use Philippine English|date=March 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}} {{infobox basketball club | name = GenSan Warriors | color1 = | color2 = | color3 = | current = 2026 GenSan Warriors season | logo = GenSan Warriors logo.png | logo_size = 200px | league = MVBA (2005–2008) <br> [[National Basketball Conference|NBC]] (2007–2008) <br> [[Liga Pilipinas]] (2008–2011) <br> '''[[Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League|MPBL]] (2018–present)''' <br> '''[[Pilipinas Super League|PSL]] (2024–2025)''' | founded = {{start date and age|2005}} (first incarnation) <br> {{start date and age|2018}} (second incarnation) | history = '''GenSan MP PacMan Warriors''' <br> 2005–2008 <br> '''MP–GenSan Warriors''' <br> 2008–2011 <br> '''GenSan Warriors''' <br> 2018–2023, 2024–present <br> '''South Cotabato Warriors''' <br> 2024 | arena= Lagao Gymnasium <br> <small> (''last used in 2023'') </small> | location = [[General Santos]] | colors = {{color box|#{{MPBL color|GenSan Warriors|1}}}} {{color box|#{{MPBL color|GenSan Warriors|3}}}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}} | sponsor = | coach = [[Elvis Tolentino]] | championship = | pattern l= |body l= |patterns l= |shorts l= |title l= | pattern d= |body d= |patterns d= |shorts d= |title d= }}

The '''GenSan Warriors''' are a Filipino professional [[basketball]] team based in [[General Santos]]. The team competes in the [[Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League]] (MPBL) as a member of the league's [[South Division (MPBL)|South Division]]. The team most recently played their home games at Lagao Gymnasium.

The team's first incarnation began play in the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) as the '''GenSan MP PacMan Warriors''' from 2005 to 2008 while also playing in the [[National Basketball Conference]] (NBC) from 2007 to 2008. The team played in [[Liga Pilipinas]] from 2008 to 2011 as the '''MP–GenSan Warriors''' following the merger of the two former leagues.

In 2018, the team was revived as part of the MPBL's national expansion during the [[2018–19 MPBL season|2018–19 season]]. The team name was simplified as the GenSan Warriors, keeping the location identifier and moniker. In [[2024 MPBL season|2024]], the team name was changed to '''South Cotabato Warriors''', representing the entire province, before going back to their previous moniker when they joined the [[Pilipinas Super League]] (PSL) in late 2024.

The Warriors are one of five teams based in [[Mindanao]] and one of two based in the [[Soccsksargen]] region, the other team being the [[Sarangani Marlins]].

==History==

===First incarnation (2005–2011)=== The team was founded in 2005 as the ''GenSan MP PacMan Warriors'', originally as part of the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) and later the [[National Basketball Conference]] (NBC) in 2007. General Santos then became part of [[Liga Pilipinas]] in 2008 following the merger of both leagues and renamed to the ''MP–GenSan Warriors''. Liga Pilipinas ceased operations in 2011, ending the team's first incarnation.

===Second incarnation (2018–present)=== The team was revived in 2018 as part of the [[Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League]]'s national expansion in the [[2018–19 MPBL season|2018–19 season]], becoming the league's first representative from the [[Soccsksargen]] region.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Luarca |first=Roy |date=2018-06-12 |title=MPBL: Expansion teams, new faces and stars headline Datu Cup curtain-raiser |url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/12/18/mpbl-expansion-teams-new-faces-and-stars-headline-datu-cup-curtain-raiser |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=ABS-CBN News}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bacoor Strikers rip GenSan with Pacquiao watching to move on cusp of MPBL semis |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/bacoor-strikers-gensan-warriors-south-division-quarterfinals-mpbl-lakan-cup-gab-banal-a2437-20200220 |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}</ref>

Both Celiz and Raymundo would depart from the team before the [[2022 MPBL season|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]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Co |first=Adrian Stewart |date=2022-11-07 |title=Bacolod edges GenSan, enters MPBL south semis |url=https://www.panaynews.net/bacolod-edges-gensan-enters-mpbl-south-semis/ |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=Panay News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Panganiban would leave for [[San Juan Knights|San Juan]], while the team added 2020 MVP [[John Wilson (basketball)|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 Marlins|Sarangani]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jervy Cruz joins Kyt Jimenez at GenSan Warriors in MPBL |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/from-batang-pier-to-warriors-jervy-cruz-joins-kyt-jimenez-at-gensan-a793-20230407 |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}</ref> The [[2023 MPBL season|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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GenSan trounces Muntinlupa, tackles Batangas in semifinals |url=https://mb.com.ph/2023/10/25/gen-san-trounces-muntinlupa-tackles-batangas-in-semifinals |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=Manila Bulletin |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MPBL: Batangas ousts GenSan, sets up rematch with Bacoor in South finals |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/mpbl-game-batangas-city-embassy-chill-beats-gensan-warriors-a4885-20231108 |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}</ref>

Heading into the [[2024 MPBL season|2024 season]], the team will be without Jimenez, who was drafted and signed by the [[San Miguel Beermen]] in the [[PBA season 48 draft]]. The Warriors also changed its location identifier to South Cotabato to represent the entire region.

==Current roster== {{South Cotabato Warriors roster}}

===Head coaches=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! colspan="6" style="{{MPBL color cell|GenSan Warriors}}" | GenSan Warriors head coaches |- ! style="{{MPBL color cell2|GenSan Warriors}}" | # ! style="{{MPBL color cell2|GenSan Warriors}}" | Name ! style="{{MPBL color cell2|GenSan Warriors}}" | Start ! style="{{MPBL color cell2|GenSan Warriors}}" | End ! style="{{MPBL color cell2|GenSan Warriors}}" class="unsortable" | Achievements ! style="{{MPBL color cell2|GenSan Warriors}}" class="unsortable" | Ref. |- | align=center | 1 || {{sortname|Jesus|Ramon Pido}} | [[2018–19 MPBL season|2018]] || [[2019–20 MPBL season|2019]] | align=center | — | |- | align=center | 2 || {{sortname|Rich|Alvarez}} | [[2019–20 MPBL season|2019–20]] || [[2019–20 MPBL season|2020]] | align=center | — | |- | align=center | 3 || {{sortname|Ronnie|Dojillo}} | [[2021 MPBL Invitational|2021]] || [[2021 MPBL Invitational|2021]] | align=center | — | |- | align=center | 4 || {{sortname|Marlon|Martin}} | [[2022 MPBL season|2022]] || [[2022 MPBL season|2022]] | align=center | — | |- | align=center | 5 || {{sortname|Jesus|Ramon Pido}} | [[2023 MPBL season|2023]] || [[2023 MPBL season|2023]] | align=center | — | |- | align=center | 6 || {{sortname|Rich|Alvarez}} | [[2023 MPBL season|2023]] || [[2023 MPBL season|2023]] | align=center | — | |- | align=center | 7 || {{sortname|Elvis|Tolentino}} | [[2024 MPBL season|2024]] || ''current'' | align=center | — | |- |}

== Notable players ==

=== Individual award winners === {{col-begin}} {{col-3}} '''MPBL Homegrown Player of the Year''' * Cris Masaglang – [[2023 MPBL season|2023]] {{col-3}} '''[[All-MPBL Team|All-MPBL Second Team]]''' * [[Pamboy Raymundo]] – [[2019–20 MPBL season|2020]] {{col-end}}

=== MPBL All-Star Day === {{col-begin}} {{col-3}} '''[[MPBL All-Star Game|All-Star selections]]''' * Cris Masaglang – [[2019 MPBL All-Star Game|2019]], [[2022 MPBL All-Star Game|2022]] * [[Robby Celiz]] – [[2020 MPBL All-Star Game|2020]] * Nikko Panganiban – 2022 * [[Kyt Jimenez]] – [[2023 MPBL All-Star Game|2023]] * [[John Wilson (basketball)|John Wilson]] – 2023 * Christian Fajarito – [[2024 MPBL All-Star Game|2024]] * [[Larry Rodriguez (basketball)|Larry Rodriguez]] – 2024 {{col-end}}

=== PBA players === {{col-begin}} {{col-3}} '''[[List of Philippine Basketball Association players|Ex-PBA players]]''' {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} * [[Val Acuña]] * [[Ronjay Buenafe]] * [[Mark Cardona]] * [[Robby Celiz]] * [[Jervy Cruz]] * [[Mark Cruz]] * [[Nico Elorde]] * [[Jammer Jamito]] * [[Khasim Mirza]] * [[Pamboy Raymundo]] {{col-2}} * [[Larry Rodriguez (basketball)|Larry Rodriguez]] * [[Ervic Vijandre]] * [[John Wilson (basketball)|John Wilson]] {{col-end}} {{col-3}} '''[[Philippine Basketball Association draft|Drafted to PBA]]''' * [[Mikey Williams (basketball, born 1991)|Mikey Williams]] – 4th overall, [[PBA season 46 draft|season 46]] * [[Kyt Jimenez]] – 76th overall, [[PBA season 48 draft|season 48]] {{col-end}}

=== Other notable players === * [[Gerald Anderson]] * [[Bobby Pacquiao]] * [[Manny Pacquiao]]

== Season-by-season records ==

=== Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League === {|class="wikitable" |style="background:#FFFFCF; width:2em"| || '''League champions''' |- |style="background:#CFCFFF; width:2em"| || Division champions |- |style="background:#CFFFCF; width:2em"| || Qualified for playoffs |- |style="background:#FFCFCF; width:2em"| || Best regular season record |}

{|class=wikitable style="width:100%; text-align:center" |- ! rowspan="2" | Season ! colspan="7" | Regular season ! colspan="2" | Playoffs |- ! Division !! Finish ! GP !! W !! L !! PCT !! GB ! Stage !! Results |- | colspan=10 style="{{box-shadow border|a|#{{MPBL color|GenSan Warriors (MPBL)|3}}|2px}}; background-color:#{{MPBL color|GenSan Warriors (MPBL)|1}};"|<span style="color:#{{MPBL color|GenSan Warriors|2}};">'''GenSan Warriors'''</span> |- | [[2018–19 MPBL season|2018–19]] <br> ''Datu Cup'' || [[South Division (MPBL)|South]] || bgcolor="#CFFFCF" | 4th || 25 || 14 || 11 || {{Winning percentage|14|11}} || 6 || {{nowrap|Division quarterfinals}} || lost vs. Bacoor City, 0–2 |- | [[2019–20 MPBL season|2019–20]] <br> {{nowrap|''Lakan Season''}} || South || bgcolor="#CFFFCF" | 7th || 30 || 18 || 12 || {{Winning percentage|18|12}} || 8 || Division quarterfinals || lost vs. Bacoor City, 0–2 |- | [[2022 MPBL season|2022]] || South || bgcolor="#CFFFCF" | 4th || 21 || 15 || 6 || {{Winning percentage|15|6}} || 3 || Division quarterfinals || lost vs. Bacolod, 1–2 |- | [[2023 MPBL season|2023]] || South || bgcolor="#CFFFCF" | 3rd || 28 || 21 || 7 || {{Winning percentage|21|7}} || 2 || Division quarterfinals <br> Division semifinals || '''won vs. Muntinlupa, 2–1'''<br>{{nowrap|lost vs. Batangas City, 1–2}} |- | colspan=10 style="{{box-shadow border|a|#{{MPBL color|South Cotabato Warriors|3}}|2px}}; background-color:#{{MPBL color|South Cotabato Warriors|1}};"|<span style="color:#{{MPBL color|South Cotabato Warriors|2}};">'''South Cotabato Warriors'''</span> |- | [[2024 MPBL season|2024]] || South || bgcolor="CFFFCF" | 6th || 28 || 17 || 11 || {{Winning percentage|17|11}} || 4 || Division quarterfinals<br>Division semifinals || '''won vs. Biñan, 2–1'''<br>lost vs. Batangas City, 1–2 |- | colspan=10 style="{{box-shadow border|a|#{{MPBL color|GenSan Warriors|3}}|2px}}; background-color:#{{MPBL color|GenSan Warriors|1}};"|<span style="color:#{{MPBL color|GenSan Warriors|2}};">'''GenSan Warriors'''</span> |- | [[2025 MPBL season|2025]] || South || bgcolor="#CFFFCF" | 5th || {{sum|18|11}} || 18 || 11 || {{Winning percentage|18|11}} || 7 || Division quarterfinals <br>Division semifinals|| '''won vs. Basilan, 2–1''' <br>lost vs. Quezon, 0–2 |- ! colspan=3 | All-time regular season record !! {{Sum|103|58}} !! 103 !! 58 !! {{Winning percentage|103|58}} !! rowspan=3 | !! colspan=2 | 6 playoff appearances |- ! colspan=3 | All-time playoff record !! {{Sum|9|15}} !! 9 !! 15 !! {{Winning percentage|9|15}} !! colspan=2 | 0 finals appearances |- ! colspan=3 | All-time overall record !! {{Sum|112|73}} !! 112 !! 73 !! {{Winning percentage|112|73}} !! colspan=2 | 0 championships |}

=== Pilipinas Super League === {|class=wikitable style="width:100%; text-align:center" ! rowspan="2" | Season ! colspan="6" | Regular season ! colspan="2" | Playoffs |- ! Finish ! GP ! W ! L ! PCT ! GB ! Stage ! Results |- | colspan=10 style="{{box-shadow border|a|#{{MPBL color|GenSan Warriors|3}}|2px}}; background-color:#{{MPBL color|GenSan Warriors|1}};"|<span style="color:#FFFFFF;">'''GenSan Warriors'''</span> |- | [[2024–25 Pilipinas Super League season|2024–25]] <br> ''President's Cup'' || 2nd || 10 || 8 || 2 || {{Winning percentage|8|2}} || 1 || Semifinals || lost vs. San Juan, 0–2 |- ! colspan="2" | All-time regular season record !! {{Sum|8|2}} !! 8 !! 2 !! {{Winning percentage|8|2}} !! rowspan="3" | !! colspan="2" | 1 playoff appearance |- ! colspan="2" | All-time playoff record !! {{Sum|0|2}} !! 0 !! 2 !! {{Winning percentage|0|2}} !! colspan="2" | 0 finals appearances |- ! colspan="2" | All-time overall record !! {{Sum|8|4}} !! 8 !! 4 !! {{Winning percentage|8|4}} !! colspan="2" | 0 championships |}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{South Cotabato Warriors}} {{navboxes|list= {{MPBL}} {{Pilipinas Super League}} {{Mindanao Sports}} }}

[[Category:GenSan Warriors| ]] [[Category:National Basketball Conference teams]] [[Category:Liga Pilipinas teams]] [[Category:MPBL teams|General Santos]] [[Category:Pilipinas Super League teams]] [[Category:2005 establishments in the Philippines]] [[Category:Basketball teams established in 2005]] [[Category:Sports in South Cotabato]]