SAN Juan and Pasig repeated over their rivals and arranged a semifinal clash in the OKbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season Presented by Xtreme at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan last Tuesday.
The San Juan Knights weathered Valenzuela’s final assault to prevail, 90-79, while the Pasig Realtors turned hot in the fourth quarter to rout the Quezon City MG Cars Capitals, 101-83.
In the series’ openers last October 18, San Juan won, 90-82, and so did Pasig, 84-80, in overtime.
San Juan Go for Gold and Pasig forged a best-of-3 affair in the North division semifinals starting on November 7.
Valenzuela XUR Homes Realty rallied to within 74-82 with still 1 minute and 57 seconds to go, but back-to-back triples by Judel Fuentes and Dexter Maiquez pushed San Juan beyond reach, 88-74, less than a minute left.
Maiquez wound up with a game-high 20 points plus 6 rebounds, but it was Fuentes who earned best player honors after compiling 15 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals.
Other major contributors for San Juan Coach Randy Alcantara were Michael Calisaan with 14 points plus 4 rebounds, Orlan Wamar with 10 points, 3 rebounds plus 3 assists and Marwin Taywan 10 points, 8 coming in the early part of the last quarter.
Valenzuela got 17 points and 14 rebounds from Jaymar Gimpayan, 14 points and 8 rebounds from Reneford Ruaya, 12 points from Lord Hower Casajeros and 11 points from veteran Cyrus Baguio.
The Pasig Realtors of Coach Ogie Gumatay again felt some pressure when the Capitals threatened at 65-62 after the third quarter.
Ryan Paule Costelo, however, found his mark and Carlo Lastimosa sustained his game-long brilliance to put the Realtors back on safe ground, 90-72.
Lastimosa finished with 24 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals and was named the game’s best player. Costelo dropped all of his 17 points in the fourth quarter to go with 4 assists and 3 rebounds, while Robbie Manalang tallied 15 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists.
