(October 20, 2025) Malolos, BULACAN—Monday night playoff basketball was an insane evening for Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) fans after witnessing not just one, but two brutal on-court scuffles on the same day. First, it was Jonas Tibayan, who’s in the spotlight once again for all the wrong reasons. Then, there’s former PBA MVP and San Miguel Beermen legend, Arwind Santos, further tarnishing his legacy after an uncalled-for act, resulting in serious damages and, unsurprisingly, another public uproar from the internet.
MPBL Ready to Impose Penalties on Basilan’s Santos After Sucker Punching GenSan’s Bringas
The stacked Basilan Starhorse were holding their own against a surprisingly good General Santos Warriors in their quarterfinals matchup; however, in the heat of the moment, while battling for position for a loose ball, 37-year-old veteran Anthony Bringas caught a clear punch to the face from ex-PBA star Arwind Santos. It was a wild scene and was immediately ruled out as an unsportsmanlike foul, resulting in an automatic ejection.
Basilan, however, still won the game after two OTs despite Santos’ absence, 116-114, behind Alex Cabagnot’s 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists.
After the game, Bringas’ camp and family flooded the internet while calling for “accountability and justice” after the victim suffered multiple injuries, including a fractured nose and potential risk of vision impairment. Meanwhile, the investigation is still ongoing, but the MPBL management says there will be sanctions to be implemented soon.
Arwind Santos, a legend in the local scene, a former MVP, and a 9-time champion, has already gained notoriety for arguably one of the dirtiest players and probably one of the most hated personalities in recent memory. After the incident on Monday, Santos received yet another series of harsh criticism with some saying he’s too old for unsportsmanlike behavior. Truthfully, the public perception towards Santos continues to go sour, despite being named one of PBA’s 50 greatest players.
Mindoro’s Tibayan Got Smacked Two Months Ago, But This Time Around, He’s the Aggressor
On the same night, Jonas Tibayan also had his fair share of unwarranted virality after assaulting Will Gozum and Gab Banal in a heater playoff showdown between Mindoro Tamaraws and Quezon Huskers. Late in the fourth quarter, Tibayan hit Gozum in the face and then struck Banal with his elbow, putting two of his opponents on the floor. Everyone was furious, but at the same time, it was whimsical, with some fans calling it the “Manny Pacquiao Basketball League”—a joke aligned with MPBL’s founder, Pac-Man, a professional boxing champion.
Like the game before them, Quezon also ended the matchup in thrilling fashion, after eliminating Mindoro in a double-overtime, 104-102, thanks to Judel Ric Fuentes’ 21 points and a game-winning shot in crunch time.
Just two months ago, back in August, Tibayan suffered a broken jaw, a busted lip, and a fractured shoulder after he was at the receiving end of a sucker punch from Michole Sorela. The latter was handed a lifetime ban from MPBL, but his friends and teammates defended the veteran big man, stating he just retaliated after the former’s continuous taunting.
Apparently, Tibayan was definitely a dirty player, and Sorela just had enough.
