The San Juan Knights banked on Orlan Wamar and Dexter Maiquez to subdue the Batangas City Tanduay Rhum Masters, 72-63, on Thursday and extend their hot streak in Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Wamar clustered eight points, spiked by back-to-back triples, while Maiquez had eight as they outscored the entire Rhum Masters, 16-15, in the fourth quarter and powered the Knights to their fifth straight win in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
The Bataan Risers struck from afar and showed more cohesion in a 94-77 demolition of the Imus Braderhood in the opener.
San Juan, the 2019 MPBL champion, only trails Nueva Ecija (7-0) and is ahead of fellow unbeaten teams Muntinlupa (3-0) and Pasig (1-0), and reigning titlist Pampanga, Abra, Zamboanga, Rizal Province and Quezon Province, all with 5-1 slates, in the race for playoff slots.
Batangas stayed within sight, 61-67, but Wamar knocked in a triple and Maiquez hooked a shot with 49.9 seconds left to pull down the Rhum Masters, the MPBL inaugural titlist, to a 3-4 card.
Wamar wound up with 16 points, 10 assists and 4 rebounds to clinch best player honors over Maiquez, who posted 18 points and 4 rebounds, and Michael Calisaan with 15 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 assists. Veteran Reynel Hugnatan contributed 9 points and 5 rebounds for the Knights.
With Dom Vera sinking five triples, Rhinwill Yambing three and Jeff Santos two, the Risers surged ahead, 38-18, and proceeded to snap a three-game slide and climb to 2-5.
