THE San Juan Knights silenced the Basilan Viva Portmasters in the homestretch and prevailed, 72-62, on Monday to move closer to the leaders of the MPBL 2025 Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna.
Basilan threatened at 62-64 following a triple and a drive by Emman Calo with 3 minutes left, but San Juan tightened its defenses and banked on two inside thrusts by Dexter Maiquez and one by Nikko Panganiban to notch its third straight win in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
San Juan, bidding to reclaim the MPBL title it last won in 2019, trails Nueva Ecija (5-0), Quezon (4-0) and Rizal (4-0) in the race to the playoffs.
Michael Calisaan shone for San Juan with 21 points, 13 rebounds and 3 steals, clinching Best Player honors over Maiquez who had 14 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists, Reynel Hugnatan with 2 points and 5 rebounds, and Orlan Wamar with 10 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals.
Basilan, which tumbled to 1-4, got 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals from Calo, 10 points plus 5 rebounds from Gab Dagangon and 9 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds from veteran Alex Cabagnot.
Unable to hit from afar, sinking 3 of 21 triple tries, San Juan attacked the shaded lane where it made 42 points against Basilan's 18 for the big difference.
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Back-to-back layups by Jervy Cruz pushed Basilan to within 57-61, but Maiquez quelled the rally with a triple.
Batangas City Tanduay Rhum clawed back from a 12-point hole entering the fourth quarter to subdue Bataan, 70-65, in the second game.
With Cedrick Ablaza and Levi Hernandez leading the assault, the Rhum Masters unloaded 14 points against two for the Risers to seize control, 63-60, with 1 minute and 32 seconds left en route to a 3-2 card.
Robbi Darang retaliated with a jumper for Bataan, but a 3-point play by Jong Baloria raised the lead to 66-62.
Bataan's Dom Vera split two free throws, but Hernandez canned his two to pull down Bataan to 1-4.
Ablaza tallied 20 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, followed by Hernandez with 16 points and 6 rebounds, and Mark Niel Cruz 11 points plus 5 rebounds.
The Risers got 16 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds from Darang, 14 points plus 6 rebounds from John Lorenz Capulong, and 11 points plus 5 rebounds from Mitchelle Maynes.
Imus stands ground
Imus Braderhood withstood Sarangani's fiery rallies and prevailed, 94-89, in the opener.
The MPBL plays at the Ynares Center 2 Montalban for the first time on Tuesday, with games pitting Muntinlupa against Bulacan at 4 p.m., Paranaque against Davao at 6 p.m., and Mindoro against host Rizal at 8 p.m.
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