Streaking San Juan withstood Paranaque’s final assault and prevailed, 88-82, on Thursday in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The San Juan Knights blew a 20-point halftime spread, but kept their composure even as the Paranaque Patriots bunched 10 points to threaten at 77-83 with 1 minute and 48 seconds to go.
Nikko Panganiban, however, countered with two layups against two charities by Joshua Gallano to ensure the Knights’ 11 straight win and an 18-3 record in the roun-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
Pasig City MCW Sports clobbered Bulacan, 110-79, in the nightcap, while Bataan got tested before tripping Oriental Mindoro, 72-66, in the opener.
Michael Calisaan powered the Knights with 28 points and 7 rebounds, followed by Panganiban with 21 points, 3 rebounds plus 3 assists, and Marwin Taywan with 11 points, 5 steals and 4 assists.
Homegrown John Anthony Umali drilled in back-to-back triples to cap Paranaque’s 10-point run and added another triple after Panganiban’s last bucket to push the Patriots within 82-87, only 41 seconds left.
Umali wound up with 19 points, laced by five triples, for Paranaque which tumbled to 9-13. The Patriots also got 12 points from Keith Pido, 11 from Paolo Castro and 10 from Joshua Gallano.
Ryan Paule Costelo presided over Pasig’s 15th win against 7 losses with a 28-point, 4-rebound, 4-assist effort. The 5-foot-5 sparkplug was supported by Pierce Tyron Chan with 19 points and Kenny Roger Rocacurva with 17 points, 7 rebounds plus 4 assists.
