The San Juan Knights quelled Binan Tatak Gel’s final assault to eke out an 80-75 victory on Friday night, Aug. 29, to share second place in the North Division of the MPBL 2025 Season at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Binan rallied to knot the count at 73 with 3 minutes and 42 seconds left, but the Knights countered through a three-point play by Aldrech Ramos and back-to-back drives by Nikko Panganiban and John Galinato to raise their record to 22-2, the same as the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards and behind the Abra Solid North Weavers’ 22-1 in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team, 2-division tournament.
Panganiban, taking charge as Orlan Wamar struggled, posted 14 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists to earn best player honors over Michael Calisaan, who tallied 13 points and 10 rebounds, Arvin Gamboa with 11 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, and Galinato with 12 points.
In other games, Batangas City Tanduay Rum also thwarted Gensan, 65-60, in the second game to catch Zamboanga Sikat at 17-8 in the South Division, while The Rizal Xentromall Golden Coolers turned hot in the fourth quarter and thumped the Marikina Shoemasters, 92-78, in the opener.
Wamar, San Juan’s Top Gun, settled for 4 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds and was saddled with 7 turnovers.
Binan skidded to 13-11 and joint seventh in the South Division despite Kenny Roger Rocacurva’s 23-point, 7-rebound, 2-assist effort, Michael Maestre’s 16 points and 5 rebounds, and Pamboy Raymundo’s 12 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.
Levi Hernandez delivered for the Rum Masters with 26 points and 6 rebounds, followed by Philip Paniamogan and Jong Baloria with 7 points each. Mark Niel Cruz contributed 6 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists, while Jeckster Apinan chipped in 5 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists.
