San Juan, Pasig step on gas

MANILA, Philippines — San Juan caught Sarangani off-form while Pasig turned back Muntinlupa in overtime last Friday in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season presented by Xtreme at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Leaning on the hot hands of Judel Fuentes, the San Juan Knights cruised to a coast-to-coast 86-74 conquest of the Sarangani Marlins in the nightcap of another triple-bill in the single robin-elimination phase of the 22-team tournament.

Jason Melano and Carlo Lastimosa accounted for all of Pasig’s nine points in the extended period as the Realtors completed a come-from-behind 92-89 victory over the Muntinlupa Cagers.

Bacolod Bingo Plus trounced Caloocan, 95-84, in the opener and also boosted its playoff drive with a 9-6 record, the same as San Juan and slightly behind Pasig’s 9-5 card.

The 5-foot-10 Fuentes, a former Centro Escolar University star,  pumped in a game-high 29 points,  including six triples, grabbed 11 rebounds and issued three assists to power the Go for Gold-backed Knights past the Marlins, who tumbled to 10-4.

Fuentes was supported by Dexter Maiquez with 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists and Orlan Wamar with 12 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Back-to-back triples by Fuentes pushed San Juan ahead, 41-26, and Sarangani could come no closer than 64-73 in the fourth quarter.

Sarangani got 18 points, nine rebounds and four assists from YouTube sensation Kyt Jimenez, followed by Yvan Ludovice with 14 points and nine rebounds and Gabby Espinas with 10 points, six rebounds and five assists.