By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

UP, 1-0, in their best-of-three Chooks-to-Go/Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL)Lakan Season quarterfinal joust, North top-seeds San Juan-Go for Gold Knights seek to close out the Pasay Voyagers in Game Two today at the Angeles University Foundation Gym in Pampanga.

Had their struggles for much of the series-opener, the Knights made a late charge and came up with a narrow 75-74 victory to draw first blood and put themselves in a position to advance to the next round.

John Wilson came alive late for San Juan in Game One, draining a huge triple with 1:31 left in the contest to break a 71-all tie.

It was a cushion which proved to be the leverage the Knights needed to book the win.

Mr. Wilson finished with 11 points on 3-of-11 shooting, but had eight of those in key moments down the stretch. He also had eight rebounds and three steals.

Mike Ayonayon top-scored for San Juan with 15 points to go along with five assists and two steals while Jhonard Clarito added 13 markers and nine boards.

Pasay, meanwhile, was spearheaded by Axel Iñigo’s 24 points, boosted by four triples.

Elmar Moradas added 13 points off the bench while Jaypee Belencion poured all of his 11 points in the third quarter for the eighth-seeded Voyagers.

“The players just did not give up despite our struggles. We stepped up our defense and just forced them to work hard for their points,” said San Juan head coach Randy Alcantara after their Game One win, talking about what did it for them in the come-from-behind victory.

Game Two between San Juan and Pasay is set for 6:30 p.m.

Also playing today at the AUF Gym are the Pampanga-ADG Group of Companies Giant Lanterns and 1Bataan-Camaya Coast Risers. Pampanga leads the best-of-three affair, 1-0, after taking Game One, 71-64.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR