San Juan weathered Pampanga’s final assault to prevail, 86-82, on Friday in their battle for the North Division and overall supremacy in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season elimination round at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
Although San Juan wasted a 43-27 spread in the second quarter and even yielded the lead at 73-74 and 75-76, the Knights kept their poise and with Orlan Wamar at the helm, unloaded an 11-2 run to seal their 14th straight win, 86-78, with 44 seconds to go and climb to a 23-1 record, the best among the 29 competing teams.
Wamar posted 22 points 10 rebounds and 2 steals to clinch the Daily Fantasy best player honors.
Pasay drubbed Marikina, 83-64, in the nightcap and Caloocan routed Imus, 138-94, in the opener to bolster their playoff drives.
Zachary Huang provided support with 14 points and 3 rebounds and so did Dexter Maiquez (11 points, 8 rebounds) and Michael Malonzo (10 points, 7 rebounds).
With Wamar drilling in 4 of 7 triple tries, the Knights of Coach Sen. Jinggoy Estrada converted 12 of 27 for a high 44.4 percent rate that compensated for their 40-56 deficit in rebounds.
Defending champion Pampanga suffered its second loss after a 23-win run despite Justine Baltazar’s 19-point, all in the second half, 17-rebound, 4-assists, 3-steal, 1-block effort.
Pampanga, being coached by Gov. Dennis Pineda, also got 23 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists from Encho Serrano and 19 points, 6 rebounds from MJ Garcia.
The Pasay Voyagers, powered by Jasper Estacio’s 14 points plus 5 rebounds, Axel Inigo’s 12 points and Dhon Reverente’s 9 points plus 12 rebounds, cruised to victory No. 9 at their homecourt and climbed to 16-9.
