SAN JUAN GAME LOG #27: Knights saw streak snapped by Zamboanga

Zamboanga dealt San Juan its first loss for 2020 after they took out the reigning national champions of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, 69-64, Friday evening at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The Valientes has put an end to the Knights' four-game winning streak.

Anton Asistio came off the bench for coach Britt Reroma as he fired for 15 points, going 7/10 from the free throw line as Zamboanga moved up to 18-11 and complicated the playoff positioning in the Southern Division, leading by as much as 12 in the third courtesy of Denice Villamor's triple.

Backing up the former Ateneo guard are the 3x3 duo of Alvin Pasaol and Leonard Santillan who had 13 points apiece for Zambo, who won despite San Juan converting their 24 turnovers into 23 points.

San Juan were caught in the cold early in the game, but John Wilson and Jhonard Clarito almost put them on a comeback trail.

Both the league's leading scorer and arguably the best homegrown player each had 18 for the Knights, but it was not enough as they fell down to 24-4, especially with Manila a close second and the top spot in the North is still up for grabs.

The scores:

Zamboanga 69 -- Asistio 15, Pasaol 13, Santillan 13, Villamor 8, Reyes 5, Bonsubre 4, Black 4, De Vera 4, Rono 3, Arboleda 0, Thiele 0

San Juan 64 -- Wilson 18, Clarito 18, Ayonayon 11, Bunag 6, Tajonera 5, Isit 4, Subido 2, Aquino 0, Wamar 0, Pelayo 0, Estrella 0, Victoria 0

Quarter scores: 19-17, 36-27, 55-48, 69-64

Photo by Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League