San Juan shifted into high gear after the first quarter and never looked back, routing Rizal Xentromall, 79-64, on Saturday in the opener of their North Division quarterfinal playoffs in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
After a tight first quarter, where the San Juan Knights held a narrow 17-16 lead, they found their rhythm in the second quarter, with Michael Calisaan leading the charge.
By halftime, the Knights had pulled away, securing a 48-38 advantage and moving just one win away from clinching the best-of-three series. San Juan entered the playoffs as the North’s top seed, facing off against the eighth-seeded Rizal Golden Coolers.
Calisaan delivered an outstanding performance, recording 16 points—10 of which came in the pivotal second quarter—and grabbing 5 rebounds.
His efforts earned him Daily Fantasy best player honors, edging out teammates Dexter Maiquez, who contributed 14 points and 4 rebounds, and Reynel Hugnatan, who added 10 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds.
San Juan coach, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, expressed his pride in his team’s execution, especially after their 100-104 overtime loss to Rizal during the elimination round.
“I’m proud of the boys. They did their homework. They did their job very well,” Estrada said.
However, he emphasized the importance of minimizing turnovers if they want to sweep the series and continue their pursuit of the MPBL crown, which they last claimed in 2019.
The Knights extended their lead to as much as 77-55 midway through the fourth quarter.
Agem Miranda chipped in with 8 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds, while Orlan Wamar added 7 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds in the win.
For Rizal, Marco Balagtas led with a double-double, posting 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Alwyn Alday also scored 13 points.
However, the Golden Coolers struggled offensively, with no other player reaching double figures.
