San Juan Knights trounced Caloocan, 76-61, and extended its winning run in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2025 Season at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig late Monday.
Powered by Arvin Gamboa and Michael Calisaan, the Knights surged ahead, 43-28, at halftime and kept control throughout en route to an 8-0 record in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
San Juan, the 2019 MPBL champion, trails 2022 titlist Nueva Ecija (9-0) and paces reigning back-to-back champion Pampanga (9-1), Quezon Province (9-1) and Abra (9-1) in the race for playoff spots.
AC Soberano, Dexter Maiquez and Orlan Wamar, took over in the second half as the Knights, being coached by Alex Angeles, led by as far as 76-58.
Wamar posted 12 points, 13 assists and six rebounds to earn Best Player honors over Soberano, who fired 14 points spiked by four triples and three rebounds, and Maiquez, who posted 14 points and six rebounds.
Calisaan finished with 10 points and eight rebounds while Gamboa tallied 11 points and six rebounds.
Caloocan, which dropped to 6-4, got 10 points each from Rommel Calahat, Jeff Manday and Reil Cervantes.
Zamboanga SiKat blitzed Muntinlupa in 2:14 and prevailed, 82-75, to remain close to the leaders with an 8-2 card.