San Juan went through two overtimes to subdue Makati, 95-92, on Monday and forge a semifinal tussle with Nueva Ecija in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The San Juan Knights leaned on a clutch triple by Orlan Wamar with 1 minute and 3 seconds to go to take a 95-90 lead in the second extension.
Emman Calo canned two charities to push Makati to within 95-92, but JC Cullar missed a probable game-tying triple with six seconds left, closing the playoffs door on the OKBet Kings via a 2-0 sweep of their best-of-three quarterfinal series.
While the Knights needed to squeeze out their reserve power against the Kings, the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards had little trouble disposing of the Payay Voyagers, 71-62, earlier for a similar 2-0 quarterfinals score.
San Juan Coach Randy Alcantara said it’s all about heart as neither team wanted to lose in the highly physical encounter.
In the end, the younger, fresher legs of the Knights, notably Wamar, Adrian Nocum, Marwin Taywan, Nikko Panganiban, Rhinwill Yambing, Egie BOy Mojica and Zach Huang prevailed over the veteran-laden Kings.
Nocum wound up with 22 points, 9 rebounds and 3 steals, but Wamar got his second-straight best player award with 16 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals.
Michael Calisaan posted 14 points and 8 rebounds, Taywan 13 points plus 6 rebounds, Panganiban 11 points plus 6 rebounds, and Huang with 10 points plus 12 rebounds.
San Juan led by as many as 19-34, midway through the second quarter, but Makati fought back to cut the gap, 40-37, at halftime.
Panganiban drove in with 18 seconds to go to send the game that ended at 11:55 p.m. into overtime, 75-75.
Makati’s Billy Robles, on the other hand, forced the second overtime with a basket, 86-86.
Makati, which also yielded to San Juan, 84-95, in Game 1, got 24 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocks from Robbie Celiz; 24 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists from Emman Calo, and 19 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists from Billy Robles.
Nueva Ecija, the highly favored defending champion, only had Chris Bitoon in twin digits with 16 points, but controlled the tempo after just two quarters, 38-25, to improve on its come-from-behind 85-81 victory in Game 1.
Nueva Ecija Coach Jerson Cabiltes stayed behind to watch the San Juan-Makati encounter and see the strengths and weaknesses of the Knights.