ORLAN Wamar dished off a record 25 assists as the San Juan Knights dumped the Sarangani Grippers, 114-68, on Wednesday in Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
His shooting touch gone awry, Wamar focused on orchestrating the plays for the Knights, who cruised to their 24th win against 2 losses and shared second spot with the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards in the North Division and overall standings, right behind the Abra Solid North Weavers (24-1) in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team, two-division tournament.
Wamar, the 2023-2024 MPBL 3-point king, eclipsed Philip Manalang’s 23 assists posted last year when he was still with the Paranaque Patriots.
Kenneth Villapando contributed 26 points, 5 assists and 2 steals for the Knights; followed by Dexter Maiquez with 19 points and 4 rebounds, John Galinato with 13 points, and Royce Alforque and Nikko Panganiban with 10 points each.
Sarangani, which skidded to 9-17, got 18 points plus 5 rebounds from Larce Sunga, 16 points from Ken Brillantes, and 12 points plus 6 assists from Martin Gozum.
The Pasay Voyagers extended their hot run to eight with a 101-70 drubbing of the Bulacan Kuyas in the nightcap.
Jasper Salenga led the Voyagers to an 18-8 slate in the North with 15 points. Marc Daniel Sangco and Jopet Soriano provided support with 14 points each, and so did Felipe Chavez and Brian Wendel Hilario with 10 each.
Bulacan slumped to 3-23 despite Marlon Monte’s 18 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists; John Rey Sumido’s 16 points and 5 rebounds, and Joseph Celso’s 14 points plus 7 rebounds.
The Mindoro Tamaraws gored the Valenzuela City Magic, 100-74, in the opener to rise to 14-11 and share seventh spot with Binan Tatak Gel, in the South Division.
With all 14 players fielded in scoring, the Tamaraws led throughout and by as many as 81-48 to boost their playoff drive.
Mindoro Fil-Am Ashon Andrews went eight-of-eight on field goals and two of four from free throws for 18 points on top of 2 rebounds and 2 assists to earn best player honors over teammates Ino Comboy, with 12 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists, and Brandrey Bienes, with 10 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists.
Other Tamaraws who delivered in the presence of team owner Mayor Jennifer “Inna Alegre” Cruz of Pola, Oriental Mindoro, were Bambam Gamalinda with 10 points and 7 assists, and Rodel Vaygan and Marion Magat with 8 points each.
Valenzuela’s 21st loss against 6 wins, put to waste Kobe Bryant Pableo’s 18 points plus 6 rebounds, Arvie Bringas’ 16 points plus 5 rebounds, Nemesis Dela Cruz’s 13 points plus 5 rebounds, and Jonathan Ralf Gesalem’s 10 points plus 2 rebounds.
MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes turned the Suzuki Burgman Street Version 2 over to Manila Times Sports Editor Emil Noguera at halftime of the San Juan-Sarangani encounter. Noguera won the motorcycle as top raffle prize during the PSA (Philippine Sportswriters Association) Fellowship last December.
The MPBL goes to the Alonte Sports Arena on Thursday, with games pitting Manila against Pangasinan at 4 p.m., Imus against Quezon Province at 6 p.m., and host Binan against Bacolod at 8 p.m.
