The San Juan Knights repeated over the Pasay Voyagers, 77-66, on Wednesday, Oct. 22, and advanced to the semifinal round of the North Division in Manny Pacquiao Presents MPBL 2025 Season at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Unlike their scrambling 94-89 double overtime victory in Game One on October 15, however, the Knights controlled Game Two almost throughout, allowing the Voyagers to taste the lead for only 19 seconds at 8-9.
By halftime, the third-ranked Knights were ahead, 37-27, and were never seriously challenged by the Voyagers, who finished the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team, two division tournament at No. 6.
Raul Soyud and Dexter Maiquez submitted double-double for the 2019 champion Knights, with the 6-foot-5 Soyud posting 17 points and 13 rebounds on top of 2 assists and 2 blocks, and the 6-foot-3 Maiquez tallying 15 points and 12 rebounds to go with 2 assists and 2 steals.
AC Soberano supported with 10 points plus 2 steals, followed by Orlan Wamar with 9 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals, and Royce Alforque and Aldrech Ramos with 8 points each.
The Voyagers drew 23 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks from Christian Fajarito, 11 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists from Cyrus Tabi, 9 points plus 3 rebounds from Jasper Salenga, and 5 points, 13 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists from Marc Sangco.
Pasay struggled from afar, sinking only 2 of 24 triple attempts for a horrendous 8.3 percent, while San Juan fared a little better, drilling in 7 of 24 attempts for 29.2 percent.
The Voyagers were further hampered by 16 turnovers against 12 for the Knights, and accounted for only 7 steals against 13 for the Knights, who’ll be facing the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo in the best-of-three semifinal round.
The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards rallied, then thwarted the Pangasinan Heatwaves, 82-72, in the first game to forge a sudden-death in their similar quarterfinal series.
Pangasinan stunned Nueva Ecija, 86-85, in the opener of the best-of-three affair at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City on October 15.
Trailing, 36-23, following three straight triples by Vic Manuel, Nueva Ecija clawed to within 44-45 at halftime and moved ahead, 65-64, after the third quarter.
The Rice Vanguards, behind Will McAloney and Rob Celiz, took control in the last period, pulling away at 78-67 before coasting to the victory that kept their bid of regaining the crown they held in 2022 going.
McAloney posted 24 points and 9 rebounds to earn best player honors over Celiz, who tallied 12 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists, Billy Robles, who notched 13 points plus 4 rebounds, Ryan Costelo, who finished with 10 points and 3 assists, and John Wilson, who contributed 7 points and 11 rebounds.
The Heatwaves got 13 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists from Hesed Gabo, 11 points and 7 rebounds from Manuel, and 8 points plus 2 rebounds from Alyn Bulanadi.
Nueva Ecija missed the services of Top Gun Jaycee Marcelino, but his twin brother Jayvee chipped in 6 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
The MPBL playoffs continue at the Ynares Center Montalban on Thursday, with games pitting Batangas against Zamboanga at 6 p.m., and Binan against Rizal at 8 p.m.
