San Juan and Pasay ramp up their drive in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) with hard-earned victories on Monday at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The San Juan Knights relied on a jumper by Egie Boy Mojica with 13 seconds left to thwart the Bataan Risers, while the Pasay Voyagers rode Tricky Peromingan’s fourth-quarter contributions to beat Bacolod City of Smiles, 67-63, in the elimination round of the 29-team tournament.
Both the Voyagers, who have won their fifth straight, and the Knights, who have won their third straight, improved their records to 10-3, enhancing their chances of advancing to the two-division playoffs.
A triple by Robbie Darang allowed Bataan to tie the score for the last time at 84.
However, Mojica came through with the game-winning shot that brought down the Risers to 6-8.
The 6-foot-3 Mojica, formerly of De La Salle-Dasmarinas and Adamson, finished with 12 points and 5 rebounds to complement the efforts of San Juan’s top scorers, Orlan Wamar and Adrian Nocum, who both scored 17 points.
Wamar also contributed 9 assists and 8 rebounds, while Nocum added 6 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 assists for the Knights, who also received 12 points from Zachary Huang.
Bataan had 18 points, 7 assists, and 3 assists from Darang, 13 points from Jethro Sombero, and 10 points from Jason Castro.
Peromingan, a 6-foot-1 Cebuano guard, greeted the fourth quarter with six straight points in an 8-point burst that pushed Pasay ahead, 57-55.
The former Adamson Falcon added three points in a 7-4 closing run by Pasay that handed Bacolod its ninth loss in 14 games.
Dhon Reverente led Pasay with 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists, followed by Peromingan with 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists, Adven Diuptado with 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists, and Elvin Chan with 10 points.
Bacolod received 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists from Fil-Am Valandre Chauca and 15 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals from John Cantimbuhan.
In the opener, the Makati OKBet Kings proved superior over the Oriental Mindoro Disiplinados and comfortably won, 77-60, to raise their record to 9-4.
Keith Agovida led Makati to their fourth straight win with 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists, followed by Emman Calo with 13 points and 3 rebounds.
Mindoro, which fell to 2-12, received 16 points from Genmar Bragais, 12 points from Marvel Jimenez, and 12 points plus 10 rebounds from homegrown player Rodel Vaygan.
Veteran Paulo Hubalde suited up for Mindoro for the first time and contributed 7 points, 5 assists, and 2 rebounds.
The MPBL will visit the Bacoor City Strikers Gymnasium on Tuesday, with Imus battling Valenzuela at 4 p.m., Negros facing off against Laguna at 6 p.m., and Iloilo clashing with Bacoor at 8 p.m.
