San Juan took the solo lead while Batangas stayed close in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season on Wednesday at the Batangas City Coliseum.
The San Juan Knights dumped the Bicolandia Oragons, 99-58, for a 6-0 record in the elimination round that shoved them ahead of 5-game streakers Binan, Nueva Ecija and Quezon.
Showing their mettle, the Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters trounced the Davao Occidental Tigers, 71-59, in the nightcap to climb to 6-1.
The Mindoro Tamaraws rallied to force overtime then scored the game’s last six points to stun the Abra Weavers, 80-76, in the opener.
Pouncing on the token resistance put up by the Oragons (0-8), the Knights led by as far as 78-32, giving their coach, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, the luxury of shuffling 14 players, 12 of whom managed to score.
With San Juan’s top guns fielded sparingly, Egie Boy Mojica emerged the Knights’ top scorer with 16, followed by Michael Calisaan with 15 points, John Galinato 13 points, Arvin Gamboa 11 points, and Michael Malonzo 10 points plus 10 rebounds.
Unlike the Knights, the Rum Masters needed to crawl out of a 19-31 hole before seizing control from the Tigers, whose slate fell to 5-2.
Juneric Baloria tallied 15 points for Batangas, which also benefitted from Cedric Ablaza’s 12 points and 11 rebounds and Dawn Ochea’s 12 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals.
Controlling the boards, 48-30, the Rum Masters poured 36 points inside the paint as against only 14 for the Tigers.
Trailing, 54-64, the Tamaraws banked on Tey Teodoro’s back-to-back triples and Andres Desiderio’s five-point wind-up to knot the count at 72 in regulation.
The Weavers regained control through Roi Sumang and John Lloyd Clemente, 76-74, but it proved to be just a fling with glory as they went silent in the final 1 minute and 48 seconds.
In contrast, the Tamaraws pulled off the escape act through another triple by Teodoro, and a free throw each by Kint Ariar, Karl Bono and Art Patrick Aquino.
Mindoro improved to 2-5 while Abra tumbled to 3-4 despite new coach Yong Garcia calling the plays.
Bono delivered 18 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals for Mindoro, but it was Desiderio who emerged best player with 16 points, 15 rebounds and 3 assists.
Teodoro finished with 12 points and 3 rebounds, Lester Reyes contributed 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks, and Ariar chipped in 10 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.
Caption: Michael Calisaan shines for San Juan.
