PSL: San Pedro edges 1Munti, San Juan cripples CSB, Biñan stays unbeaten

Michael Calisaan of San Juan is having a difficult time extricating from the defense of Allen Liwag of SGA-St. Benilde. PSL

By Dugout Philippines

MANILA--San Pedro, formerly known as Kyusi, appeared to be reinvigorated right after moving its franchise.

The wards of Pablo Escobets repulsed the challenge of an equally gritty side of 1Munti before scoring a 75-71 win in the PSL President’s Cup Tuesday night at the Paco Arena.

Barely a year removed from playing in the Philippine Basketball Association, 6-foot-5 Chris Javier quickly made an impact for his new team, San Pedro.

Javier finished with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field as he displayed his variety of offensive arsenals.

But while Javier has been a consistent fixture all game long, Pablo Escobets needed a crucial putback from hardworking Felix Apreku in the last 55 seconds that gave his team some cushion, 74-68.

It was the seventh win in 12 games for San Pedro, the same record being carried by 1Munti, which was relegated to eighth spot.

San Juan then put on a clinical show against a young but talented SGA-St. Benilde to hammer out a convincing 89-66 victory, while Binañ beat winless NKT Sniper soundly, 125-79.

The Kings went on a tear in the second period, outscoring the Blazers, 31-15, to establish a 50-33 lead at the half and were never seriously threatened from there.

Bruising center-forward Dexter Maiquez led the Kings’ onslaught as he registered 15 points while also drawing solid support from the rest of his teammates, most notably Michale Calisaan, Nikko Panganiban, and Orlan Wamar as San Juan improved its current standing at 11-1, the same record being held by Nueva Ecija, and occupied the third spot.

Calisaan contributed 13 points while Wamar and Pangaiban each had 10 markers.

John Martin Galinato came off the bench and produced nine as the more experienced Kings showed their dominance in practically all key departments like rebounding, second-chance points, points inside the paint, bench points, and assists.

San Juan outrebounded St. Benilde, 42-33, and that resulted in 17 second-chance points for the Kings.

Bench points were also crucial as the Kings scored 57, 10 more than their rivals, while also dishing out 26 assists as compared to 18 completed by the Blazers.

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