San Juan caught Sarangani off-form while Pasig turned back Muntinlupa in overtime on Friday in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season presented by Xtreme at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Leaning on the hot hands of Judel Fuentes, the San Juan Knights cruised to a coast-to-coast 86-74 conquest of the Sarangani Marlins in the nightcap of another triple-bill in the single robin-elimination phase of the 22-team tournament.
Jason Melano and Carlo Lastimosa accounted for all of Pasig’s nine points in the extended period as the Realtors completed a come-from-behind 92-89 victory over the Muntinlupa Cagers.
Bacolod Bingo Plus trounced Caloocan, 95-84, in the opener and also boosted its playoff drive with a 9-win, 6-loss record, the same as San Juan and slightly behind Pasig’s 9-5 card.
The 5-foot-10 Fuentes, a former Central Escolar University star, pumped in a game-high 29 points, including 6 triples, grabbed 11 rebounds and issued 3 assists to power the Go for Gold-backed Knights past the Marlins, who tumbled to 10-4.
Fuentes was supported by Dexter Maiquez with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists and Orlan Wamar with 12 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.
Back-to-back triples by Fuentes pushed San Juan ahead, 41-26, and Sarangani could come no closer than 64-73 in the fourth quarter.
Sarangani got 18 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists from YouTube sensation Kyt Jimenez, followed by Yvan Ludovice with 14 points and 9 rebounds and Gabby Espinas with 10 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.
Muntinlupa even led at 75-67, before Pasig detonated a 13-point bomb to pull ahead, 80-75. Ivan Villanueva, however, came through with 5 points and Domark Matillano knocked in a triple to forge the extension at 83-83.
