A Win Away from the MPBL Finals: The Numbers that Won Game 1 for San Juan

Don't be fooled by the final score as the Makati Super Crunch even held a five-point lead in the third quarter. Then again, the Super Crunch were playing against the defending champions, the San Juan Knights and that, the Beaujing Acot-coached Makati team couldn't add up to that five-point lead.

Instead, Makati's defense suddenly disappeared as San Juan went on a 10-0 scoring blast which enabled them to put themselves back in the lead entering the final quarter. From there, it was all San Juan as their defense shut down the offense of the Super Crunch who could only muster a single field goal and a free throw in the final eight minutes of the game- en route to a 76-60 win to open the North Division Finals of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). San Juan can book their return trip to the MPBL Finals with a win in Game Two but, let's not get ahead of ourselves, shall we? After all, they are playing against a Makati team that eliminated the mighty Stars of Manila from the playoffs last week. In other words, that alone means that Makati can be a dangerous team.

Another Big Game from Jhnoard Clarito

Game One saw the Knights' main men, John Wilson and Mike Ayonayon, struggling offensively and yet, the Knights are only a win away from retaining the North Division title. While Wilson and Ayonayon combined for 23 points on nine for 26 field goal shooting, it was Jhonard Clarito who picked up the slack for his struggling teammates.

In 28 minutes of playing time off the bench, Clarito had one of his best playoff performances thus far as he finished with 19 points, 18 rebounds including seven from the offensive end, and two steals. He shot seven for 12 from the field. While John Wilson may be a candidate for the Most Valuable Player award this season and with Mike Ayonayon about to hit the professional ranks, his performance in the opener of the North Division Finals proved that Jhonard Clarito may be one of the best homegrown players in the MPBL.  And the beauty of it? He's coming off the bench.

Makati's Offense Was Not So Crunchy

While the Knights have been one of the highest-scoring teams in the MPBL this season, their ability to shut down opponents with their suffocating defense is something that most people tend to forget and in the series opener against Makati, Wilson and Ayonayon may have struggled offensively but one of the reasons why San Juan won by 16 points was the fact that the Knights' defense held the fort down.

After starting the game by limiting the Super Crunch to just 11 points in the first quarter, San Juan did better in the fourth quarter as they limited Makati to just nine points. Start the game strong. Finish it stronger. No wonder why they are the defending champions and the favorites to repeat as champions.

It also didn't help Makati that San Juan was able to limit the starters of the Super Crunch as Jeckster Apinan finished with seven points in 16 minutes. He also had five turnovers. Jong Baloria just nailed one of his five attempts for his two-point outing in 18 minutes. Apinan and Baloria combined for nine of Makati's 22 turnovers from which San Juan was able to score 24 points.

As a team, the Super Crunch only shot 30% from the field, 34% from the two-point area, and 24% from downtown. 

Game Two is set for tomorrow and if Makati can't find the rhythm that enabled them to score a pair of upset wins over the Manila Stars last week, the series will be wrapped up by tomorrow. In other words, this series is for the Knights to lose. 

Photo is from the San Juan Knights.