San Juan scored a statement win in Game One of the 2022 Filbasket Summer Championships, dealing Tanduay its first loss, 101-75, Friday evening at the San Jose del Monte City Sports Complex in Bulacan.
Behind CJ Isit’s hot-shooting, the Knights raced to a 30-20 lead early and never looked back.
Though John Rey Villanueva was able to cut the lead down to 77-68 in the third canto, Justin Gutang and Judel Fuentes pushed the lead back to double-digits with backbreaking threes.
Jhonard Clarito led the way for San Juan with 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and two steals while Isit also got 19 points with five assists.
Gutang and Fuentes also chipped in 18 and 14 points, respectively.
Villanueva, meanwhile, paced Tanduay with 17 points, six rebounds, and four steals. Jhong Baloria got 15 points as well as the Rum Masters suffered its first loss in 12 games.
Later in the night, Nueva Ecija dumped Bacolod Bingo Plus, 88-77.
The Ballers were without Mark Yee as he is preparing for Manila Chooks in the 2022 Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3×3 Asia Pacific Super Quest.
The Capitals stood on the throttle in the third quarter with Hesed Gabo and Mike Mabulac leading the way as the Novo Ecijanos built up a 69-57 lead going into the fourth. Bacolod couldn’t get the stops in the end as Nueva Ecija won comfortably.
Michael Mabulac led Nueva Ecija in scoring with 13 points, with Bobby Balucanag at 11.
Bingo Plus’ Raymond Ilagan and Kraniel Villoria scored 15 each in a losing effort.
Game Two will be on Sunday.
The Scores:
Semis 1:
San Juan 101 — Clarito 19, Isit 19, Gutang 18, Fuentes 14, Bunag 8, Ibanez 7, Peralta 6, Wamar 5, Arim 2, Ubalde 2, Acosta 1, Sarangay 0.
Tanduay 75 — Villanueva 17, Baloria 15, Ablaza 13, Olivares 10, Apinan 10, Hernandez 3, Importante 3, Cruz 2, Dela Virgen 2, Lingganay 0, Gonzales 0,
Quarterscores: 30-20, 54-31, 75-58, 101-75.
Semis 2:
Nueva Ecija 88 — Mabulac 13, Balucanag 11, Gabo 9, Juico 9, Villarias 9, Bitoon 7, Collado 6, Raymundo 6, Siruma 5, Palma 5, Uyloan 4, McAloney 4, Bringas 0, Manalang 0, Taganas 0.
Bacolod 77 –– Ilagan 15, Villoria 15, Lao 13, Casino 10, Alday 9, Garcia 8, Lee Yu 2, Solis 2, Gonzales 2, Pastias 1, Albo 0, Tulipas 0.
Quarterscores: 19-20, 43-39, 69-59, 88-77.
