San Juan extended its steak against Pangasinan while Paranaque came from behind to subdue Bulacan on Saturday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Olivarez College Gym in Paranaque.
The San Juan Knights surged ahead in the third quarter then quelled the Pangasinan Heatwaves’ final uprising en route to an 81-73 conquest that raised their record to 4-0 in the elimination round of the 29-team tournament.
The Paranaque Patriots, on the other hand, razed a 12-27 deficit to tally a 79-73 victory over the Bulacan Kuyas that raised their record to 5-1.
San Juan posted a 64-40 spread and held on to pull down Pangasinan to a 2-4 card.
Zach Huang led the Knights with 15 points and 9 rebounds, followed by AC Soberano with 15 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter.
Other Knights who delivered for coach Sen. Jinggoy Estrada were Orlan Wamar with 12 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals, Nikko Pollo Panganiban with 11 points, and Michael Malonzo with 9 points and 9 rebounds.
Pangasinan drew 21 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds from Ian Melencio, 15 points from Ed Daquioag, 10 points plus 8 rebounds from Jr Caasi, and 9 points plus 13 rebounds from Michael Mabulac.
Trailing, 60-61, Paranaque got six straight points from Jielo Razon to seize control then sealed Bulacan’s fifth loss in 6 games with a triple from the former Perpetual star, 77-71, with 1 minute and 21 seconds left.
Razon wound up with 11 points, 8 assists and 2 steals to complement the 13-point, 6-rebound, 4-steal, 3-assist output of Keith Pido.
The Patriots were also fueled by John Uduba’s 11 points, John Uduba’s 11 points plus 11 rebounds, Philip Manalang’s 10 points, John Rey Villanueva’s 10 points and Mark Yee’s 8 points, 11 rebounds plus 2 blocks.
Bulacan slipped to 1-5 despite Paolo Hubalde’s 22 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals, Nino Ibanez’s 15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals, and Kristan Hernandez’s 10 points plus 11 rebounds.
In the other game, Marikina finally broke into the win-column after six starts at the expense of Bacolod, 82-73.
Adzhar Udjan paced the Marikina Shoemasters with 17 points, 14 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 steals, followed by homegrown Eloie Tan with 15 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals, and Eric Joseph Pili with 10 points plus 3 rebounds.
Bacolod, which dropped to 1-5, got 21 points plus 8 rebounds from Danny Marilao, 14 points plus 4 assists from LA Casinilio, and 10 points plus 5 rebounds from JJ Espanola.
The MPBL returns to the Orion Sports Complex on Monday with Manila, which owns a 3-2 record, battling Sarangani (1-4) at 4 p.m., Zamboanga (5-0) against Quezon Province (2-3) at 6 p.m., and Davao Occidental (3-1) against Bataan (3-2) at 8 p.m.