Bacoor—San Juan earned its third straight win the hard way by pulling off a come-from-behind 81-74 triumph over Navotas in the MPBL Datu Cup at the Strike Gymnasium here Tuesday night.
The Knights, who are being supported by Go-For-Gold, bucked a slow start and needed a spark from ex-pro John Wilson.
Wilson scored 16 of his 28 points, including 10 straight points in a blistering fourth quarter run that allowed San Juan to take control of the game, in the payoff fourth period. An 11-0 run allowed the Knights to wipe out a 61-50 deficit.
The former Ginebra stalwart added 10 rebounds to finish with a double-double performance, powering the Knights to their eighth win in nine games and a tie for the lead with the Bataan Risers-Zetapro in the northern division of the team standings.
Defense also keyed the Knights’ win as they held the Clutch without a field goal in the final 5:24 to pull off a win. San Juan took advantage of Navotas’ 23 miscues and translated it to 28 points off turnovers. The Knights also outscored their rivals inside the paint, 42-24.
The Clutch, who squandered a 12-point lead in the third period, 58-46, absorbed their fifth loss in nine games.
In the nightcap, host Bataan blasted a shorthanded Pasig team, 84-59, to get back on the winning track.
Gab Banal, returning from a brief stint playing for the Philippine 3 x 3 team in Shanghai and the IECO Green Warriors in Macau, led the way for the Strikers with 25 points and nine boards. His squad improved its win-loss record to 5-4.
The loss was the eighth in nine games for the Pirates, who fell deeper into the bottom of the team standings.