THE Pangasinan Heatwaves stayed hot throughout and stunned the San Juan Knights, 67-57, on Tuesday in Game One of their North Division semifinal series in the MPBL 2025 Season at the Gov. Andres B. Bernos Memorial Gymnasium in Bangued, Abra.
Their spirits buoyed by their 2-1 upset of the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards in the quarterfinal round, the Heatwaves played with ferocity and fire to move within a win of advancing to the division finals.
Powered by Jorey Napoles and Bong Galanza, the Heatwaves unleashed a closing 8-2 run to take the half, 36-31, from which the off-form Knights never recovered, endangering their bid for a fifth straight stint in the division finals.
With Ian Melencio and Alyn Bulanadi joining the scoring fray, Pangasinan led by as many as 63-52, with 3 minutes and 28 seconds left.
Napoles posted 16 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists to clinch Best Player honors. Galanza supported with 10 points, Michael Mabulac with 8 points and 6 rebounds, Melencio with 6 points, and Vic Manuel with 5 points and 5 rebounds.
Only Niko Panganiban scored in twin digits for the Knights with 15, followed by Arvin Gamboa with 9. Top Gun Orlan Wamar was held to 4 points and gunner Dexter Maiquez was scoreless.
The Knights, the 2019 MPBL titlists, were hounded by their atrocious free-throw shooting, converting only 6 of 18 tries for 33.3 percent.
The MPBL South Division semifinals start on Thursday, with games pitting Binan against Batangas at 4 p.m., and Quezon Province against Gensan at 6 p.m. at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.
The Quezon Huskers are favored over the Gensan Warriors, whom they bested 86-82, in the elimination phase. Batangas Tanduay Rum is also picked over Binan Tatak Gel, which it beat, 74-68, in their first encounter.
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