#MPBLPLAYOFFS: BRING IT ON, PASAY

FOR THE SAN JUAN KNIGHTS, THE REAL SEASON BEGINS ON SATURDAY.

With the top record in the league, the reigning MPBL Champions got their ultimate wish: HOME COURT ADVANTAGE for the entirety of the playoffs as they defend their crown to open the Lakan Season playoffs tonight.

However, that 26-4 record will not mean a thing if the visiting Pasay Voyagers shock them at the FilOil FlyingV Centre in game 1 tonight.

In what was supposed to be a cakewalk for Coach Randy Alcantara's troop last June 28, Pasay were on course of a shocker after coming from 21 points down in the second quarter to take the lead in the final frame, but the Knights got the champions' poise and halted the Travel City cagers' upset plans in the endgame.

There are a lot of lessons had to learn since then, in which both teams took contrasting routes to the postseason, but the regular season will not mean a thing as the stakes are getting higher, where a small amount of margins can mean a huge thing.

As your regular San Juan insider, here's what San Juan needs to notice ahead of Game 1.

1. ALL EYES ARE ON JOHN WILSON

A NO BRAINER.
The former NCAA MVP has etched his name on the leaderboards when numbers is concerned.

Points, triples, steals. Name it, he has it.

FIRST PLAYER TO HIT A THOUSAND POINTS IN THE LEAGUE.

44 against a hostile crowd in Angeles.

A STREAK OF SIXTEEN STRAIGHT GAMES IN DOUBLE FIGURES.

HANDS UP, SO WHAT? He has the license to fire those long bombs anywhere.

For him, the historic season is just an appetizer ahead of the playoffs, knowing that everyone wants the piece of their throne.

"I'm always prepared naman," he said last Thursday. "Di kami nagpapabaya. Kelangan pukpukan dyan, yung proper mindset and stability throughout the game.

2. THE FORTRESS KNOWN AS FILOIL

SEVEN GAMES. SEVEN WINS.

Winning average: 12.5 per game

Biggest win: 91-63 vs MUNTI, OCTOBER 21

Closest margin: 2 (twice), including Pasay.

The lone unbeaten team at home shows the rest of the league how to win convincingly, and dramatically. A great team in every regional-based league has one requirement on its list: THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME.

Even with a 9PM tip-off, San Juanenos know how to turn up and fill the castle known as the FilOil FlyingV Centre.

For Coach Randy, the crowd is a huge factor as he already knew how its like ever since his playing days as a Knight himself, as he expects everyone, including the loudest band in the MPBL, to roar even before the ball was up.

"Para sa kanila ito. Gagawin lang namin yung best namin," he said.

3. DHON'(T) JUST SLEEP ON REVERENTE ALONE

(MPBL photo)

Perhaps the biggest lesson in that game on June 28, 2019 is never to be overconfident.

Already leading by 21 early in the second, the Knights almost had the reality slapped hard on to their faces when Dhon Reverente suddenly woke up and nearly willed Pasay on his own terms before coming up short.

Out of the game high 26 points that he scored, 15 of those were in the third and most of his output came from driving lay-ups.

Apart from that, the Navy man was the anchor of Pasay's ship on both ends of the floor, as he had a double-double averages of nearly 12 points and 12 rebounds per contest, something that Larry Rodriguez and Jeff Tajonera should notice ahead of their showdown tonight.
However, the Voyagers are not just relying on their ALL STAR alone. HE HAD BACK UP.

Axel Inigo was the team's leading scorer with 12.9 per game, and the fact that he only had 3 against the Knights is just as misleading, so John Wilson and Mike Ayonayon had to put up all the clamps on the former FEU Tamaraw for the series.

4. SECOND UNIT MUST STEP UP

As we see in the latter stretch of the season, the Knights have depth beyond the rediscovered El Deposito Tunnel, (a 190-meter distance from FilOil).

With that, Jhonard Clarito proved that he was not just the best sixth man, but also the best home-grown player in the league as he was the super-sub that everyone was envious of.

And it's not just him who should get the nod, everyone called by Coach Randy should be up to the task. With Orlan Wamar exploding in some stretches, the Knights should utilize every ounce on their reserves to get it.

Photos by Harold Biado/San Juan Knights