#LabanSanJuan: Knights advance to North semis after sweeping Pasay in yet another thriller

Top seed San Juan proved why they are the reigning defending champions of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, as they fended off Pasay to sweep their quarterfinal series Thursday evening at the AUF Gym in Angeles, Pampanga with a 74-67 win.

Beset by manpower problems at the middle before and during the game, the Knights dug deep into their reserves to book their place in the North Division semifinals with a 2-0 series win, five days after prevailing over the eight-seeded Voyagers in their thrilling Game One win.

Stressing the need to play as the kings of the court, captain John Wilson lead by example as he logged in a double-double of 17 points and 16 rebounds, making 7/9 from the stripe despite only shooting 28% from the field all game.

San Juan started the game well, breaking away with a 10-0 run in between the first two periods to erect the biggest lead at 12, 22-10.

Homegrown forward and Datu Cup hero Jhonard Clarito also had a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds off the bench for coach Randy Alcantara, who had to play the last 13 minutes of the second half without Larry Rodriguez.

Already without Jeff Tajonera before the game, Rodriguez was sent to the lockers with 2:58 remaining in the third after incurring his second techinical foul, leaving no choice but to put Christian Bunag and Jamil Gabawan on the third.

That gave the Voyagers a golden chance to pounce as they inched to within a pair at the end of the third, before igniting a 10-3 start to get the upperhand to open the final period, 52-47 on a Jan Jamon triple.

But as Mike Ayonayon wound up scoreless in the game, Orlan Wamar stepped up big in the payoff, hitting seven of his 10 there to put away the pesky Pasay side, as they teamed up with Wilson and CJ Isit to break the final deadlock at 62 to await the winner between Pampanga and Bataan.

The Scores:

SAN JUAN 74 -- Wilson 17, Clarito 12, Wamar 10, Rodriguez 8, Isit 7, Victoria 7, Estrella 5, Bunag 3, Gabawan 2, Reyes 2, Marquez 0, Ayonayon 0.

PASAY 67 -- Reverente 23, Jamon 11, Iñigo 7, Moradas 6, Belencion 5, Chan 5, Opiso 4, Ilagan 4, Lasquety 2, Pasia 0, Vitug 0, Lastimosa 0.

Quarter scores: 17-10, 32-22, 44-42, 74-67

Photo by MPBL