MPBL: San Juan takes care of business vs. Bacolod

MPBL: San Juan takes care of business vs. Bacolod

SAN JUAN wasted a big lead before settling down for a 91-85 victory over lowly Bacolod on Friday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Olivarez College Gym in Paranaque.

Way ahead, 87-61, the Knights relaxed on defense and allowed the Bacolenos to bunch 13 points. They got back into their groove just in time, however, and sped to their 11th win in 12 starts to stay close to Quezon Province (12-0), Nueva Ecija (11-0), and Pampanga (12-1) in the round-robin eliminations of the 29-team tournament.

San Juan drew 20 points, eight rebounds, and three assists from Dexter Maiquez; 15 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists from Orlan Wamar; 14 points and six rebounds from Michael Calisaan; and 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists from Michael Malonzo.

The City of Smiles tumbled to 1-13 as Louie Vigil's 33 points, including 22 in the fourth quarter, 18 rebounds, three assists, and two steals went for naught. Homegrown Alfred Sedillo also posted 27 points and three rebounds.

Binan's away game statement

Binan then foiled home team Paranaque's final rally to tally a 71-68 victory.

Egged on by the jam-packed crowd, the Patriots clawed back from an 11-point deficit, 58-69, but ran out of time as Binan Tatak Gel climbed to 8-4.

Carlo Lastimosa led the home spoilers with 13 points, followed by Pamboy Raymundo, Robbie Manalang, and JJ Pido with nine each.

Paranaque slid to 8-6 despite Jielo Razon's 22-point, 9-rebound, 7-assist, 2-steal effort, JP Sarao's 13-point, 5-assist, 3-rebound output, and Joshua Gallano's 13-point and 8-rebound contribution.

In the other agme, Muntinlupa ruled the boards and bested Marikina, 67-56.

With Joshua Guiab firing 19 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, the Cagers led by as many as 49-35 en route to a 5-9 card.

Muntinlupa posted a 62-42 edge in rebounds over the Shoemasters, who were further hampered by an atrocious 6-of-40 shooting from rainbow territory to tumble to 3-11.

The MPBL returns to the Calasiao Sports Complex on Saturday with games pitting Pampanga against Bulacan at 4 p.m., Nueva Ecija against Bataan at 6 p.m., and Quezon City against host Pangasinan at 8 p.m.