The Quezon Huskers slowed down the San Juan Knights’ high-octane offense and prevailed, 78-71, to keep the top spot in the SportsPlus Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League 2026 Season South division on Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Christian Pagaran and Mon Abundo sandwiched a drive by San Juan’s Gerry Abadiano for the game’s biggest lead, 71-61, with 4:04 left that paved the way for the Huskers’ sixth straight victory and a 13-2 slate in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 26-team tournament.

The Knights narrowed the gap following a triple by Orlan Wamar and two charities by Mon Abundo, but Cyrus Tabi countered with two free throws and Christian Pagaran split his two charities to send the pro-San Juan crowd to the exits, 76-68, with 44.3 seconds left.

Cedrick Manzano, a member of Gilas Pilipinas in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, posted 14 points and 12 rebounds to clinch the SportsPlus Best Player honors over Michael Canete, who had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

“We did not give up and gave our best,” Manzano said. “We just followed the game plan, and we were able to do it well.”

They were supported by Judel Fuentes with nine points and three rebounds, and Tabi with six points, 11 assists and two rebounds, and Pagaran with eight points plus four rebounds.

San Juan saw its 13-win run broken and skidded to 15-2 in the North division as the Knights felt the absence of Japan B. League-bound Michael Phillips and the impending departure of Abadiano, who played his last game before moving over to the Korean Basketball League.

The Knights, who also missed head coach Alex Angeles, drew 14 points and five rebounds from Michael Calisaan, 10 points, seven rebounds and two blocks from Raul Soyud, and 10 points, five assists and four rebounds from Wamar, and eight points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.