SAN JUAN flaunted its depth and firepower in a 93-70 drubbing of Pasay on Thursday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna.
With all 14 players fielded in contributing, the Knights led throughout en route to their ninth straight win and an overall 18-1 record in the round-robin eliminations of the 29-team tournament.
Ahead by just 40-34 at halftime, San Juan gradually pulled away behind the joint efforts of Marwin Taywan, Zach Huang, Orlan Wamar, and John Galinato and matched its biggest spread at the final buzzer to stay close behind pacesetter Pampanga (20-1).
Dexter Maiquez led the Knights with 14 points, all but two coming in the first quarter, and seven rebounds, followed by Wamar, Galinato, and Reynel Hugnathan with 10 points each. Michael Malonzo and Huang also contributed eight points apiece for the Knights, the 2019 MPBL titlist.
The Voyagers skidded to 13-8 despite the 24-point, 5-rebound, 4-assist, 2-steal effort of Warren Bonifacio and the 12-point, 6-rebound, 3-assist output of Jasper Salenga.
Binan protects homecourt
Other games saw Binan Tatak Gel subdue Bacolod, 87-67, and South Cotabato nip Valenzuela, 76-74.
Unlike San Juan, the home team endured a tough challenge from the City of Smiles before coasting to a 12-8 card.
Behind 67-68 after three quarters, Binan seized control, 75-70, behind Pierce Tyron Chan's triple.
Bacolod star Louie Vigil countered with a jumper, but Tatak Gel bunched 12 points, the last five by Jayjay Helterbrand, to seal the outcome with two minutes to go.
Binan's Kenny Roger Rocacurva delivered 18 points plus seven rebounds, followed by Jaymar Gimpayan with 14 points plus eight rebounds, KG Canaleta with 12 points, six rebounds, plus three assists, and Chan with 11 points.
The also-ran City of Smiles, which dropped to 1-20, got 27 points, nine rebounds, and four assists from Vigil; 10 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists from Rashawn McCarthy; and 10 points plus four rebounds from Danny Marilao.
The Warriors, meantime, leaned on Jervy Cruz to thwart the Classic and climb to 14-7.
READ: Jervy Cruz leads South Cotabato win over Valenzuela
The MPBL returns to the Caloocan Sports Complex on Friday with games pitting Muntinlupa against Iloilo at 4 p.m., Manila against Mindoro at 6 p.m., and Bataan against Caloocan at 8 p.m.
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