The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The San Juan Knights quelled Binan Tatak Gel’s final assault and prevailed, 80-75, on Friday night to share second place in the North Division of Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Binan rallied to knot the count at 73 with 3 minutes and 42 seconds left, but the Knights countered through a three-point play by Aldrech Ramos and back-to-back drives by Nikko Panganiban and John Galinato to raise their record to 22-2, the same as the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards and behind the Abra Solid North Weavers’ 22-1 in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team, 2-division tournament.
Panganiban, taking charge as Orlan Wamar struggled, posted 14 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists to earn best player honors over Michael Calisaan, who tallied 13 points and 10 rebounds, Arvin Gamboa with 11 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, and Galinato with 12 points.
Wamar, San Juan’s Top Gun, settled for 4 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds and was saddled with 7 turnovers.
Binan skidded to 13-11 and joint seventh in the South Division despite Kenny Roger Rocacurva’s 23-point, 7-rebound, 2-assist effort, Michael Maestre’s 16 points and 5 rebounds, and Pamboy Raymundo’s 12 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.
Batangas City Tanduay Rum also thwarted Gensan, 65-60, in the second game to catch Zamboanga Sikat at 17-8 in the South Division led by Quezon Province (20-4).
Levi Hernandez delivered for the Rum Masters with 26 points and 6 rebounds, followed by Philip Paniamogan and Jong Baloria with 7 points each. Mark Niel Cruz contributed 6 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists, while Jeckster Apinan chipped in 5 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists.
The Gensan Warriors fell to 15-10 as only Kyle Tolentino and Larry Rodriguez struck back with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
The Rizal Xentromall Golden Coolers turned hot in the fourth quarter and thumped the Marikina Shoemasters, 92-78, in the opener.
Ahead by just two points after three quarters (62-60), Rizal banked on Robi Nayve and Samboy de Leon to pull away halfway through the fourth quarter, 83-67, and cruise to a 15-8 slate.
Nayve, a former College of St. Benilde Blazer, pumped in 12 of his 16 points, while De Leon poured in all of his 8 points in that span, outscoring the Shoemasters, who pooled only 18 and tumbled to 4-20.
The 5-foot-11 Nayve, who drilled in five triples, added 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 rebounds and was chosen best player over Alwyn Alday with 15 points, Michael Canete 11 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists, and Eric Joseph Pili with 10 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds.
With Marco Balagtas backing Canete underneath with 9 rebounds, Rizal Xentromall dominated the shaded lane, 39-30, and exploited this to score more points inside, 42-28, as well as second chances, 15-3.
Marikina got 11 points each from Jay Yutuc, laced by three triples, Karl Penano and Jomel Landayan, and 10 points from Deo Timajo.