SAN Juan Go for Gold bested Caloocan Victory Liner 73-68 while Marikina thwarted reinforced Bacoor 89-82 Tuesday in the OKbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season presented by Xtreme at the Strike Coliseum in Bacoor, Cavite.
Judel Fuentes bailed San Juan out again, but new acquisitions Dexter Maiquez and Egie Mojica also showed they can contribute as the Knights posted their 7th win against five losses and boosted their bid for a quarterfinals berth in the 22-team tournament.
Caloocan threatened at 63-66, but Fuentes, living up to his tag as go-to-guy, knocked in a triple and canned four straight free throws to seal the outcome, 73-63, with only 19 seconds to go.
Fuentes finished with 17 points and 7 rebounds, Maiquez wound up with 16 points and 10 rebounds and Mojica 8 points plus 11 rebounds for San Juan, which sparingly used another new hire, Christian Fajarito.
The Knights earlier released Jam Jamito, Macky Acosta, Mark Sarangay, Alvin Abundo, Mark Olayon and Clint Dominguez.
The Marikina Shoemasters banked on the 31-point explosion of Yves Sazon and the 10-point output of Antonio Lorenzo Joson in the fourth quarter to frustrate the Bacoor Strikers and revive their playoff aspiration with a 3-8 card.
