SAN JUAN wasted no time catching up with MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season's leaders by trouncing Valenzuela, 93-81, inside its homecourt Filoil Flying V Centre on Tuesday.
The Knights led throughout and were never threatened en route to their ninth win in as many games in the round-robin eliminations to tie idle Quezon atop the leaderboard.
Earlier, Nueva Ecija also stretched its streak to nine after turning hot in the second half and burning down Marikina, 88-64.
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Michael Calisaan paced San Juan with 18 points, followed by Dexter Maiquez with 13 points, including eight in the fourth quarter, and Orlan Wamar, who chipped in 12 points, six assists, and three steals.
Knights coach Sen. Jinggoy Estrada also drew nine points from AC Soberano, as well as eight points each from Michael Malonzo and veteran Reynel Hugnatan.
The Classic, who fell to 6-6, got 18 points and seven rebounds from JR Quinahan; 14 points, four assists, and three steals from Darell Manliguez; and 13 points plus four rebounds from Fil-Am CJ Payawal.
Pasay Voyagers stuff the stat sheet
In the other game, Pasay clobbered Bulacan, 90-69, to climb to 7-4.
Laurenz Victoria posted a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double to go along with seven assists and three steals, while Warren Bonifacio contributed his own 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Voyagers, who also drew 13 points, five rebounds, and five assists from Patrick Sleat.
Bulacan skidded to 2-10 despite the 15-point, 11-rebound effort of Jan Baltazar and the 12-point, 9-rebound, 4-assist output of Kristan Hernandez.
The MPBL goes to the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig on Wednesday. The games pit Davao against Iloilo at 4 p.m., Batangas against Mindoro at 6 p.m., and Pangasinan against Rizal at 8 p.m.
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