SAN JUAN GAME LOG #26: Knights nab ultimate home advantage after torching Davao Occidental from deep

NOT EVEN CLOSE.

San Juan made sure that everyone knows that they are the reigning and defending MPBL National Champions, as they made a mincemeat of Davao Occidental 84-65 Saturday evening in Iloilo City.

In the rematch of the Datu Cup finals last season, the Knights never gave the Tigers a chance, celebrating John Wilson's birthday by inching closer to the top overall seed that gives them the ultimate home court advantage in the postseason.

Now at 23-3, San Juan was led by point guard Orlan Wamar's 15 points, while the ex-pro birthday boy added 14 as they assert their supremacy across the stat sheet.

Coach Randy Alcantara's side leaned on the long-distance shooting as they hit for 15/39 from beyond the arc, and pounced on the listless ball-handling by the defending South champs by converting 29 turnovers into 32 points.

Moreover, Wamar's scoring was a huge part of the bench mob of the Knights, in which they outscored their victims by 19, sending a huge message that they had the prowess all game long.

Even as opened the game on the wrong foot with Davao scoring the first five points,  San Juan pulled away early by firing an 8-0 reply in the opening period for a relatively easy win, in which they led by as much as 26 in the second when Jeff Tajonera's three-ball put them up 43-17.

The Scores:

SAN JUAN 84 -- Wamar 15, Wilson 14, Subido 11, Ayonayon 9, Clarito 9, Tajonera 9, Rodriguez 6, Isit 4, Estrella 4, Reyes 2, Aquino 1, Victoria 0, Bonifacio 0, Pelayo 0, Bunag 0

DAVAO OCCIDENTAL 65 -- Ludovice 14, Yee 14, Gaco 9, Calo 8, Robles 6, Balagtas 5, Albo 3, Mocon 2, Bonleon 2, Forrester 1, Raymundo 1, Saldua 0, Dumagan 0, Adormeo 0
Quarter scores: 26-13, 49-31, 63-51, 84-65

file photo by Harold Biado