MANILA — The San Juan Knights scored an all-important home win in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup, blasting the Quezon City Capitals, 68-50, at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City on Monday night.
San Juan shut QC down in the second and third quarters, limiting the visiting side to a combined 18 points in the middle periods en route to the blowout.
The Knights had an early breakaway threat in the first quarter, going on a 12-0 run to take a 17-8 advantage with only 56 seconds left in the first period.
The Capitals closed out the quarter with five unanswered points to trim the lead to four, 17-13, entering the second.
San Juan finally pulled away in the next quarter, starting it with a 10-0 blast to open a 27-13 advantage and eventually limiting QC to just eight second quarter points.
While scoring slowed down in the third, the Knights opened their largest lead at 23 points, 47-24, and never looked back, eventually conceding just 10 Capitals points in the quarter.
John Wilson made 13 points, six rebounds, one assist, and one steal for the Knights, who moved up to 18-5, a half-game behind the Makati Skyscrapers for third place in the Northern Division, one game behind the Manila Stars for second, and two games behind the Bataan Risers for first place.
Joseph Ubalde added nine points, one rebound, and one assist off the bench.
San Juan’s last hurrah to take at least a better playoff position continues on February 19 against Mandaluyong at the San Andres Sports Complex here, right before Manila hosts Navotas.
Kim Medina made 11 markers, seven boards, three dimes, and one steal for the Capitals, who slid to 10-11, although they remain sixth in the North.
In the first game, the Caloocan Supremos got a huge boost in its last dash to the playoffs after mashing the Biñan Heroes, 76-62.
The Supremos used a huge third-quarter storm to blast the Heroes and barge into the playoff positions with one game left.
Caloocan started the game on a high note as the team opened a lead as high as 11 points, 18-7, late in the first quarter.
Biñan, however, slowly recovered and eventually went up, 26-24, with 2:41 remaining in the second quarter.
The Supremos closed out the first half with an 8-0 run to retake the lead, 32-26, before erupting in the third period with 21-6 run to pull away for good.
Almond Vosotros dropped 23 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, while Damian Lasco added 21 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one block for Caloocan, which moved up to eighth place in the Northern Division at 10-14.
The team, however, still needs to beat Muntinlupa in its final assignment and hope that Pampanga falters in its last three game to formally make the playoffs.
Michael Mabulac put up 19 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal off the bench for Biñan, which slipped to ninth place in the Southern Division at 10-14.
None of his teammates reached double figures in scoring apart from him.
The result put idle Zamboanga (9-12) up to eighth place in the South, giving the heavily-revamped squad full control of its playoff fate.
The Heroes are now in a uphill climb to beat the streaking Makati Skyscrapers at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City on February 20 — the same night the Capitals will host the Imus Bandera — to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Box Scores:
First Game
Caloocan 76 - Vosotros 23, Lasco 21, Pacquiao 12, Sanga 8, Marilao 6, Ongteco 4, Labing-isa 2, Sarangay 0, Pedrosa 0, Arong 0, Custodio 0
Biñan 62 - Mabulac 19, Pontejos 9, Olivarez 8, Ilagan 6, Galabin 6, Chan 5, Casajeros 4, Miranda 2, Leynes 2, Antonares 1
Quarterscores: 20-14, 32-26, 60-41, 76-62
Second Game:
San Juan 68 - Wilson 13, Ubalde 9, Ayon-Ayon 8, Muyang 7, Wamar 6, Cardona 6, Gabawan 4, Pelayo 4, Clarito 4, Isit 3, Rodriguez 2, Parala 2, Marquez 0, Reyes 0, Rios 0
Quezon City 50 - Medina 11, Alday 8, Tayongtong 8, Castro 7, Barua 7, Mabayo 6, Cantos 3, Santos 0, Sison 0, Collado 0, Raflores 0, Nolasco 0, Santiago 0
Quarterscores: 17-13, 36-21, 50-31, 68-50 (PNA)
