By Jerome Lagunzad
Games Tomorrow
(Imus Sports Complex)
7 p.m. – Zamboanga vs Mandaluyong
9 p.m. – Imus vs General Santos City
Pre-season favorite San Juan lived up to its lofty billing as the visiting Knights shut the lights out from host Pampanga Lanterns, 93-70, on Wednesday night for an impressive start in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Anta Datu Cup.
Former pro John Wilson was on target from beyond the arc with four triples and finished with 20 points while guard CJ Isit tallied 14 points, four assists and three steals for the Knights, who used a decisive 16-5 run in the second period to silence the partisan crowd inside the Angeles University Foundation gym.
Ex-Rain or Shine big man Larry Rodriguez scored 12 points in 13 efficient minutes of play while guard Rian Ayonayon had 10 points and former TNT star Mac Cardona chipped in nine points in what turned out to be a humdinger of a victory for San Juan.
“I am happy that my players, especially the veterans, rose to the challenge of not allowing Pampanga gain any confidence booster from the crowd. We know how difficult it will be if their supporters got into it,” said San Juan mentor Randy Alcantara.
Also emerging triumphant were the Parañaque Patriots, who showed ample poise down the stretch to hold off Valenzuela Classic, 76-73.
Mac Montilla provided the steady presence with 20 points, spiked by four triples, while guard Ryusei Koga added 14 points and center Ivan Villanueva had 12 points as the Patriots managed to survive the Classic in a tight finish and set their own title bid in motion.
Veteran playmaker Paolo Hubalde collected 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists while Rocky Acidre tallied 14 points for the Classic, who tried their best to fight back from a 71-53 deficit in the last five minutes but still came up short.
Forward Allen Enriquez finished with 20 points and six rebounds while Michael Juico added 18 points that all went for naught with the Lanterns’ intermediate loss to the dismay of a sizeable hometown crowd.
