#LabanSanJuan: Knights smother Makati to draw first blood in North finals

SAN JUAN -- In a gritty affair to open the North Division finals of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), San Juan leaned on a final frame breakaway to repulse Makati, 76-60, on Monday evening at the FilOil FlyingV Centre in San Juan. 

Facing one of the best road teams in the league, the Knights of coach Randy Alcantara repulsed the third seed visitors by clamping the Super Crunch to just single digits in the fourth quarter, drawing first blood in the best of three series in what was a physical encounter.

Homegrown hero Jhonard Clarito put up a huge double-double for the defending national champions after coming off the bench, firing in 19 points and 18 rebounds as San Juan went on for their tenth straight win at home.

Clarito's explosion was a huge part of the reserves dominance, outscoring Makati by 13 and had more fastbreak points, 13-3.

San Juan had the work cut out for them after losing their first quarter storm, with the visitors having the initiative in the third quarter by extending their lead to 5, 51-46 before they hit 10 straight to take the advantage back.

That run was just a starter course for the Knights, as they locked up Makati in the final frame, holding them to just four points in the space of more than eight minutes to get them a game closer to a return trip to the national finals.

The scores:

SAN JUAN 76 -- Clarito 19, Ayonayon 12, Wilson 11, Estrella 9, Wamar 8, Tajonera 6, Pelayo 5, Reyes 4, Gabawan 2, Isit 0, Aquino 0, Victoria 0

MAKATI 60 -- Ablaza 11, Sedurifa 10, Lingganay 10, Torralba 7, Apinan 7, Villanueva 6, Morales 3, Baloria 2, Atkins 2, Manlangit 2, Importante 0, Cruz 0, Asoro 0

Quarter scores: 24-11, 38-35, 56-51, 76-60

Photo by Harold Biado/San Juan Knights