San Juan repeated over Rizal Xentromall, 82-70, on Saturday to become the first semifinal round qualifier in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the overfilled Paco Arena in Manila.
The San Juan Knights also beat the Rizal Xentromall Golden Coolers, 79-64, in Game One, to cut short their best-of-three North Division quarterfinal series.
Next up for San Juan will either be Caloocan or Manila, which is tangling at press time. Caloocan nipped Manila, 79-78, in the opener of their playoffs.
Mike Calisaan shone for the Knights, the 2019 MPBL champion, with 22 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals.
He was supported by Nikko Panganiban with 11 points, laced by three triples, and 3 rebounds and Orlan Wamar with 11 points and 5 assists.
Barely ahead, 58-57, after three quarters, the Knights shifted to high gear in the last five minutes and posted their biggest lead at the end.
Calisaan and Wamar struck with 9 and 7 points, respectively, in that stretch, outscoring the entire Golden Coolers, who managed only 13 points.
San Juan coach Jinggoy Estrada also drew 7 points and 9 assists from Agem Miranda and 6 points each from Michael Malonzo, Dexter Maiquez, John Galinato and Zach Huang.
Rizal got 12 points and 4 assists from Valandre Chauca, 11 points from Alwyn Alday and 10 from Bambam Gamakinda.
The MPBL Playoffs go to Zamboanga City on Monday with games pitting Quezon against Negros at 6 p.m. and Paranaque against Zamboanga at 8 p.m
