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The San Juan Knights subdued the Davao Occidental Tigers, 95-79, on Friday to wrest the solo lead in Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season at the Ynares Center Montalban in Rizal Province.
Barely ahead, 60-62, the Knights banked on Dexter Maiquez and Orlan Wamar to pull away, 93-75, and seal the wire-to-wire victory that raised their record to 21-1 in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team, 2-division tournament.
San Juan moved ahead of fellow playoff qualifiers Nueva Ecija and Abra, both with 20-1 slates.
Maiquez tallied 14 points, 10 in the fourth quarter, and 10 rebounds; while Wamar posted 12 points, 9 in the fourth, 8 assists and 3 rebounds for Coach Alex Angeles, who fielded all 15 players at his disposal.
Ron Dennison supported them with 11 points and 2 rebounds, followed by Aldrech Ramos and Nikko Panganiban with 8 points each.
The Tigers fell to 8-13 despite the 24-point, 5-rebound effort of homegrown Jansher Salubre and the 21-point, 6-assist, 3-steal, 3-rebound output of Reymart Escobido.
Rizal Xentromall broke free in the third quarter and cruised past Ilagan Isabela, 71-63, in the nightcap.
The Golden Coolers erected a 54-41 spread behind Alwyn Alday and Michael Canete, and then relied on Samboy De Leon in the fourth quarter to improve to 14-7.
Alday wound up with 16 points and 3 rebounds to clinch best player honors over Canete, who finished with 19 points and 2 rebounds. De Leon scored all of his 8 points in the homestretch.
The Cowboys dropped to 12-10 despite Agem Miranda’s 19 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists; Mark Dyke’s 13 points and 14 rebounds; and Arth Dela Cruz’s 10 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists.
Imus bunched 10 points to start the fourth quarter and went on to beat Bulacan, 92-83, in the opener.
Enrique Caunan scored six straight points and Kint Ariar added four as Imus seized control at 77-74 and climbed to 9-13.
Mark Anthony Doligon shone throughout and wound up with 26 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists, followed by Ariar with 16 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists, Jayvee Dela Cruz with 11 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds, Rey Acuno with 11 points and 2 steals, and Caunan 10 points plus 8 rebounds.
Bulacan, which fell to 3-19, drew 17 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists from Marlon Monte, 12 points plus 12 rebounds from Joseph Celso, 13 points from Gino Jumao-as, and 11 points from John Rey Sumido.