MPBL: San Juan stays undefeated, Valenzuela snaps Parañaque's hot run on Orin Catacutan winner

Zach Huang shines for San Juan. MPBL

By Dugout Philippines

MANILA--San Juan continued to impress while Valenzuela pulled off a stunner on Wednesday in the MPBL Sixth Season elimination round at the Olivarez College Gym in Parañaque.

The San Juan Knights trounced the Sarangani Marlins, 80-65, for their third straight win in as many starts even as the Valenzuela Classics banked on Orin Catacutan to snap Parañaque's four-win run, 70-68, in the nightcap of a triple bill.

Catacutan canned a turn around jumper with 6.3 seconds left to push Valenzuela into the upper half of the standings with a 3-2 record.

Parañaque's Jielo Razon then missed a probable game-winning triple at the buzzer to the disappointment of the overflow home crowd.

With Parañaque behind, 55-63, the Patriots dropped a 12-3 salvo behind Razon and Mark Yee to seize control at 67-66 with 1 minute and 7 seconds left.

Lanky Dennis Santos, however, scored on a lay-up to shove Valenzuela ahead, 68-67, before Keith Pido knotted the count at 68.

Valenzuela sued for time and devised plays designed for Catacutan, who delivered without fear. Catacutan wound up with 13 points, 7 rebound and 2 steals, while Fil-Am CJ Payawal came through with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Santos finished with 10 points and 6 rebounds.

Paranaque drew 14 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists plus 4 steals from Razon, and 14 points plus 6 assists from Robbie Manalang. Yee finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds while JP Sarao chalked 13 points and 5 rebounds.

Unlike Valenzuela, San Juan was dominant throughout, leading by as far as 53-29 behind the guns of AC Soberano, Zach Huang, Michael Malonzo, and John Galinato.

Soberano posted 20 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals plus 2 assists while Huang tallied 13 points plus 7 rebounds. Malonzo and Galinato contributed 11 points each for the Knights being coach by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

Sarangani, which slumped to 1-4, drew 13 points each from Coy Alves and Felix John Villarente and 10 points from Yukihiro Kawamura.

Box Scores:

Second Game

SAN JUAN 80 - Soberano 20, Huang 13, Malonzo 11, Galitano 11, Hernandez 6, Soriano 6, Wamar 3, Gamboa 3, Panganiban 3, Taywan 2, Hugnatan 2, Ando 0, Tajonera 0, Miranda 0, Mojica 0.

SARANGANI 65 - Alves 13, Villarente 13, Kawamura 10, Destacamento 9, Diputado 7, Benedictos 4, Sta.Ana 3,  Madayag 2, Callano 2, Bulawan 2, San Felipe 0, Clarino 0, Jumao-as 0, Roque 0, Oftana 0.

Quarterscores: - 17-12, 37-23, 62-42, 80-65

Third Game

VALENZUELA 70 - Catacutan 13, Payawal 13, D.Santos 10, Quinahan 7, Macion 6, Armenion 6, Dela Cruz 6, Manliguez 5, Diego 3, Lepalam 1, Hiro 0, Trazona 0, De Chavez 0, M.Santos 0,  Gotladera 0.

PARANQUE 68 - Razon 14, Manalang 14, Sarao 13, Yee 13, Pido 5, Villanueva 4, Ruaya 4, Martel 1, Olegario 0, Elorde 0, Salaveria 0, Vizcara 0, Loyola 0, Castro 0, Singh 0.

Quarterscores: - 15-13, 29-29, 48-45, 70-68

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