SAN JUAN trounced home team Bataan, 97-81, on Thursday to extend its win run in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Kamalig Gym in Orion.
Getting a lift from hot-shooting AC Soberano and hardworking Michael Malonzo, the Knights led by as far as 44-24 and were never threatened en route to their eighth straight victory and a 17-1 record in the round-robin eliminations of the 29-team tournament.
Sinking seven triples, Soberano wound up with 25 points - including 11 in the fourth quarter - and three assists, while Malonzo wound up with 20 points, eight rebounds, and three assists.
Orlan Wamar supported them with 11 points plus seven assists, followed by Dexter Maiquez with nine points plus eight rebounds as San Juan, the 2021 MPBL champion, overtook the Quezon Huskers (16-1) and moved closer to the Pampanga Giant Lanterns (19-1).
The Risers, on the other hand, dropped to 5-15 after drawing 23 points from Yves Sazon, 14 from Rhaffy Octobre, and 10 from Dante Paguio.
Earlier games saw Batangas City blast Bacolod, 79-54, and Davao Occidental subdue Bicolandia, 123-107.
Although only Mark Niel Cruz tallied twin-digits with 10 points, 12 other Rum Masters delivered with Levi Hernandez contributing nine points and Kris Porter and Cedrick Ablaza getting eight points each.
With John Ambulodto snagging 11 rebounds and Ablaza eight, Batangas ruled the boards, 62-34, which it converted to 38 points inside the paint, swamping the Bacolenos' 20 points.
The Rum Masters climbed to 14-6 and pulled the City of Smiles down to 1-19 despite the 18-point, 6-rebound, 4-assist, and 2-steal effort of Louie Vigil and the 10-point output of Jojo Antiporda.
Davao Occidental, meantime, powered by Mac Tallo, Kurt Lojera, and Jansher Salubre, erected a 73-50 spread and proceeded to improve to 14-6.
READ: Tallo leads high-octane Davao offense in rout over Bicol
The MPBL returns to the University of Bangued Gymnasium in Abra on Saturday with games pitting Quezon Province against Mindoro at 4 p.m., Pangasinan against South Cotabato at 6 p.m., and Iloilo against Abra at 8 p.m.
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