San Juan sustained its rise while Pasay City returned to orbit on Saturday in the SportsPlus Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League 2026 Season at the Pasay Astrodome.

The San Juan Knights routed the Imus Yangkees, 120-77, in the opener, followed by the Pasay Voyagers' 87-69 triumph over the Marikina Shoemasters in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 26-team tournament.

With all 15 Knights, led by James Kwekuteye, scoring, San Juan led as far as 102-51 in securing its 17th win against two losses and tightening its grip on the second spot behind Abra Solid North (19-1) in the North division. The top four finishers will have the homecourt advantage in the quarterfinal playoffs.

Kwekuteye, who celebrated his 28th birthday, paced San Juan with 24 points, spiked with seven triples, three assists and two rebounds, followed by Patrick Sleat with 13 points, three rebounds and three assists, and Harold Alarcon, with 12 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and four steals.

The 6-foot-2 Kwekuteye, a former star of the San Beda Red Lions was chosen the SportsPlus Best Player after leading the Knights to their third straight lopsided win after losing to the Quezon Huskers, 71-78, on 30 July.

"T was injured a month ago, and now I'm here (best player)," Kwekuteye said.

Other Knights who shone were Reyland Torres with 12 points, three assists and three rebounds, and Michael Calisaan with 10 points, four rebounds and three assists.

With Kwekuteye pumping in 12 points, the Knights surged ahead, 53-29, at halftime and never let up to pull Imus down to 3-17.

Imus drew 20 points from Ian Pardo, 17 from Harold Lomlong, and 12 from homegrown Patrick Dale Beltran.

Pasay led throughout and as far as 63-44 en route to its 12th win against 10 losses, the last to Rizal Province on 8 August.

Rence Alcoriza, Steve Nash Enriquez, Cyril Gonzales and Christian Fajarito tallied 12 points each as Pasay pulled Marikina down to 7-16 and dislodged Meycauayan Marilao (11-10) at fifth place.

Alcoriza added four rebounds and three assists, Enriquez four rebounds and three assists, Gonzales four rebounds and two assists, and Fajarito 12 points and five rebounds.