The San Juan Knights flaunted depth and firepower in a 93-70 drubbing of the Pasay Voyagers on Thursday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna.
With all 14 players fielded contributing, the Knights led throughout en route to their ninth straight win and an 18-1 record in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
Other games saw Binan Tatak Gel subdue Bacolod City of Smiles, 87-67, and South Cotabato nip Valenzuela, 76-74.
Ahead by just 40-34 after the first half, San Juan gradually pulled away behind the joint efforts of Marwin Taywan, Zachary Huang, Orlan Wamar and John Galinato and matched its biggest spread at the final buzzer to stay close behind pacesetter Pampanga (20-1).
Dexter Maiquez led the Knights with 14 points, 12 in the first quarter, and 7 rebounds, followed by Wamar, Galinato and Reyniel Hugnathan with 10 points each. Michael Malonzo and Huang contributed 8 points each for the Knights, the 2019 MPBL titlist.
The Voyagers skidded to 13-8 despite the 24-point, 5-rebound, 4-assist, 2-steal effort of Warren Bonifacio and the 12-point, 6-rebound, 3-assist output of Jasper Salenga.
Unlike San Juan, Binan endured a tough challenge from Bacolod before coasting to a 12-8 card.
Behind, 67-68, after three quarters, Binan seized control, 75-70, behind Pierce Tyron Chan’s triple.
Bacolod star Louie Vigil countered with a jumper, but Binan bunched 12 points, the last five by Jayjay Helterbrand to seal the outcome, 87-72, with 2 minutes and 7 seconds to go.
Binan’s Kenny Roger Rocacurva delivered 18 points plus 7 rebounds, followed by Jaymar Gimpayan with 14 points plus 8 rebounds, Nino Canaleta with 12 points, 6 rebounds plus 3 assists, and Chan with 11 points.
Also-ran Bacolod, which dropped to 1-20, got 27 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists from Vigil, 10 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists from Rashman McCarthy, and 10 points plus 4 rebounds from Danny Marilao.
South Cotabato leaned on Jervy Cruz to thwart Valenzuela and climb to 14-7.
Cruz chalked 6 of South Cotabato’s last 8 points to finish with 13 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists.
Michole Sorela added 12 points and 4 rebounds, John Paul Calvo 11 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds, John Paul Calvo 11 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds, and Kyle Tolentino 10 points and 7 rebounds for the Warriors, who halted a two-game slide.
Valenzuela, which absorbed its third straight defeat and fell to 11-12, drew 10 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds from Darell Manliguez, 10 points and 7 rebounds from Mark Montuano, 10 points plus 3 rebounds from Carl Bryan Lacap, and 9 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists from Paolo Hubalde.
The Warriors ruled the boards, 50-40, and outscored the Classics inside the paint, 15-2.
The MPBL returns to the Caloocan Sports Complex on Friday with games pitting Muntinlupa against Iloilo at 4 p.m., Manila against Mindoro at 6 p.m., and Bataan against Caloocan at 8 p.m.
