Hot start keys Knights victory

San Juan bunched 19 points in the first half and went on to trounce Valenzuela City, 90-67, and share the second spot in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League 2025 Season on Monday at the San Andres Sports Complex.

Trailing, 6-11, the Knights closed the first quarter with 12 straight points to seize control, 18-11, then greeted the second with a seven-point spurt, capped by AC Soberano’s back-to-back triples, to pull away for good, 25-11, and rise to 11-1 in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.

San Juan trails pacesetter Nueva Ecija (12-0) and is tied with Abra in the chase for playoff berths. Right behind at 11-2 is Zamboanga SiKat, followed by Quezon Province and Muntinlupa with 10-2 slates.

Pangasinan and Batangas followed suit with hard-earned victories over Davao Occidental, 76-68, and Pasig, 93-86, respectively.

The Heatwaves shook off a cold start through Ian Melencio and Vic Manuel to climb to 7-4, ahead of the Batangas City Rum Masters, who improved to 7-5.

Melencio posted 22 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Manuel tallied 19 points, nine rebounds and two steals as Pangasinan made it back-to-back after a three-game skid.

Other hot Heatwaves were Michael Mabulac with 12 points and a night-high 17 rebounds, Harvey Pagsanjan with 12 points, four rebounds and five assists.

Davao, which absorbed its fourth straight loss and dropped to 3-6, got 15 points, four rebounds and five assists from Valandre Chauca; 13 points, 11 rebounds and two steals from Samuel Peralta; and 12 points, eight rebounds and two steals from Jeff Comia.