San Juan sweeps Pasay to enter MPBL semis
MANILA, Philippines — The San Juan Knights repeated over the Pasay Voyagers, 77-66, on Wednesday and advanced to the semifinal round of the North Division of the Manny Pacquiao Presents MPBL 2025 Season at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Unlike their scrambling 94-89 double overtime victory in Game 1 on October 15, however, the Knights controlled Game 2 almost throughout, allowing the Voyagers to taste the lead for only 19 seconds at 8-9.
By halftime, the third-ranked Knights were ahead, 37-27, and were never seriously challenged by the Voyagers, who finished the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team, two division tournament at No. 6.
Raul Soyud and Dexter Maiquez submitted double-doubles for the 2019 champion Knights, with the 6-foot-5 Soyud posting 17 points and 13 rebounds on top of two assists and two blocks, and the 6-foot-3 Maiquez tallying 15 points and 12 rebounds to go with two assists and two steals.
AC Soberano supported with 10 points plus two steals, followed by Orlan Wamar with nine points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals, and Royce Alforque and Aldrech Ramos with eight points each.
The Voyagers drew 23 points, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks from Christian Fajarito; 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists from Cyrus Tabi; nine points plus three rebounds from Jasper Salenga; and five points, 13 rebounds, three steals and two assists from Marc Sangco.
Pasay struggled from afar, sinking only 2-of-24 triple attempts for a horrendous 8.3%, while San Juan fared a little better, drilling in 7-of-24 attempts for 29.2%.
The Voyagers were further hampered by 16 turnovers against 12 for the Knights, and accounted for only seven steals against 13 for the Knights, who'll be facing the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo in the best-of-three semifinal round.
The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards rallied, then thwarted the Pangasinan Heatwaves, 82-72, in the first game to forge a sudden-death in their similar quarterfinal series.
Pangasinan stunned Nueva Ecija, 86-85, in the opener of the best-of-three affair at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City on October 15.
Trailing, 36-23, following three straight triples by Vic Manuel, Nueva Ecija clawed to within 44-45 at halftime and moved ahead, 65-64, after the third quarter.
The Rice Vanguards, behind Will McAloney and Rob Celiz, took control in the last period, pulling away at 78-67 before coasting to the victory that kept their bid of regaining the crown they held in 2022 going.
McAloney posted 24 points and nine rebounds to earn Best Player honors over Celiz, who tallied 12 points, 11 rebounds and four assists; Billy Robles, who notched 13 points plus four rebounds; Ryan Costelo, who finished with 10 points and three assists; and John Wilson, who contributed 11 rebounds and seven points.
The Heatwaves got 13 points, five rebounds and two assists from Hesed Gabo; 11 points and seven rebounds from Manuel; and eight points plus two rebounds from Alyn Bulanadi.
Nueva Ecija missed the services of Top Gun Jaycee Marcelino, but his twin brother Jayvee chipped in six points, four rebounds and four assists.
The MPBL playoffs continue at the Ynares Center Montalban on Thursday, with games pitting Batangas against Zamboanga at 6 p.m., and Binan against Rizal at 8 p.m.
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