SAN JUAN and Valenzuela pulled off contrasting over their rivals Saturday night in the MPBL Datu Cup at the Valenzuela Astrodome here.
The Knights, supported by Go-For-Gold, had an overpowering performance over the Bulacan Kuyas, who were beaten soundly right from the get-go.
San Juan scored the first two points of the match and went all the way to coasting to another easy win, its second straight in as many games.
The Knights didn’t only make short work of the Mighty Sports-backed Kuyas. The Senator Jinggoy Estrada-owned franchise also set new MPBL records in just their second gamme in the season. The team set a new mark by coming away with 40 points off Bulacan’s 25 turnovers.
San Juan likewise completed 15 steals, a record-tying mark.
A huge second quarter burst allowed San Juan to establish its biggest lead, 56-25.
“Siguro ang magandang nagyayari is we had a conscious effort of sharing the ball. Kapag ganun ang nangyayari, mas nagi-enjoy maglaro ang mga players,” added San Juan coach Randy Alcantara. “We were sharing the ball, on the other hand, we were also making stops.”
The Knights also shot 54-percent (40-of-74) from the field compared to 42-percent shooting from the Kuyas.
In the main game, Valenzuela survived a hard-fighting Basilan five, 96-94, in a game that saw the last-second ejection of the Steel head coach Joseph Romarate.
Romarate stormed inside the court, protesting a non-call on Dennis Daa, who lost the ball in a potential game-tying play for Basilan.
But Valenzuela’s victory, its first in the tournament after dropping its opening day assignment to Parañaque, was sparked by Rocky Acidre’s eight straight points in the endgame.
He had back-to-back triples in the midst of Basilan’s uprising then came up with another basket.