San Juan, Muntinlupa and Marikina pulled off contrasting victories in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season on Monday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The San Juan Knights clobbered the Laguna Heroes, 110-63, while the Muntinlupa Cagers stunned the Pasig MCW Sports, 87-84, in overtime.
The Marikina Shoemasters, on the other hand, banked on the hot hands of homegrown Eloie Tan in the fourth quarter to nip the Manila Stars, 79-77, in the
triple bill opener.
Drawing firepower from Orlan Wamar and AC Soberano, the Knights led from the start and by as far as 108-61 to climb to a 15-3 record in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
Wamar hit seven of 10 triple ties en route to a game-high 23 points plus 6 rebounds, 4 steals and 4 assists as the Knights extended their winning run to eight.
Soberano contributed 18 points, followed by Rhinwill Yambing with 12 points plus 6 rebounds, and Adrian Clarence Nocum with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 3 steals.
Laguna, which got 14 points from Jerome Garcia, 11 from Paolo Pontejos and 10 from Kenneth Acibar, tumbled to 3-16.
Muntinlupa leaned on Reneford Ruaya and John Louisse Delos Santos in extra time to foil Pasig and rise to 11-7.
Delos Santos posted 11 points, 13 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals to complement the 20-point effort of John Cedrick Abis and earn best player honors.
