SAN JUAN GAME LOG #29: Knights maul Caloocan to solidify hold at the top spot in the North

PASAY CITY -- It was a relatively an easy ride for the top spot in the MPBL Lakan Season after reigning national champs San Juan pushed Caloocan to the brink of elimination after a 111-88 blowout Tuesday afternoon at the Cuneta Astrodome.

With last Friday's loss to Zamboanga still fresh in the minds of coach Randy Alcantara, the Knights leaned on their usual trio as they pushed the Supremos closer to the boot, moving closer to the number one seed in the Northern Division after moving up to 25-4, one game ahead of the Manila Stars who shocked the Bacoor Strikers on the latter's home floor yesterday.

"Galing kami sa talo, pero kelangan namin mag-regroup," said the former Knight himself about their bounce-back win.

Newly minted skipper John Wilson lead all scorers with 24 points, firing in half of his shots from beyond the arc as the champions flexed their outside sniping when they hit 19/42 (45.2%) from deep as a unit, in contrast to Caloocan's measly 8/26 output.

With Mike Ayonayon and Larry Rodriguez  on their usual selves after hitting 17 and 16 respectively, midseason acquisition Renzo Subido unleashed his best scoring outing with 16, including four triples.

Their nearly one-sided dominance were threatened early on, with Caloocan inching closer to a point in the third when Cedric Labing-isa's layup reduced the deficit to 48-47.

But the Knights put an end to that when they hit eight straight points to put the Supremos away, in which they lead by as much as 27 late in the game where it was already sealed it with a 9-0 run in the early stages of the final period.

Damian Lasco had 21 points off the bench for Caloocan, who have to pray for a Mindoro win against Pasay in order to stay alive in the playoff race for the final spot in the North.

The scores:

SAN JUAN 111 -- Wilson 24, Ayonayon 17, Rodriguez 16, Subido 16, Wamar 12, Clarito 6, Bunag 4, Victoria 3, Aquino 3, Tajonera 3, Gabawan 3, Pelayo 2, Bonifacio 0, Reyes 0

CALOOCAN 88 -- Lasco 21, Marilao 15, Escalambre 14, Sanga 12, Labing-isa 10, Tongco 7, Ambulodto 6, Garcia 3, Sarangay 0, Gonzales 0 Cervantes 0, Cayson 0 

Quarter scores: 32-28, 48-45, 79-68, 111-88

photo by Harold Biado/San Juan Knights