PALAYAN CITY – Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards failed on their bid to bag back to back championship as San Juan Knights outscroed them, 80-88, in game 2 of the match-up’s best-of-three semifinals series at Nueva Ecija Colisrum here Friday.
San Juan found another savior in Mike Calisaan as the Knights repeated over the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, 86-82, on Friday and arranged a North Division final tussle against Pampanga in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season.
Calisaan who was later named best player of the game had 30 points, 17 in the second half, grabbed 18 rebounds and made 3 steals accross his name.
Orlan Wamar, who keyed San Juan’s Game 1 victory, was held to six points in Game 2, but drilled in a triple to quell Nueva Ecija’s early rally in the fourth quarter, 73-67.
The Rice Vanguards refused to give up and threatened for the last time, 77-82, following back-to-back triples by Jonathan Uyloan and Renz Palma, but Marwin Taywan countered with a 3 and Calisaan completed a 3-point play to seal San Juan’s romp over Nueva Ecija, which suffered its first loss at home this season.
It was payback time for San Juan, which lost to Nueva Ecija in last year’s North Finals, 2-1, after also winning Game 1.
“I told them (Knights) I don’t want a repeat performance,” said Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, co-owner of the 2019 MPBL Datu Cup champions. “That they should get the job done if they can in Game 2. Their determination paid off.”
Adrian Nocum, made up for a lackluster performance in the opener, with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for San Juan Coach Randy Alcantara, who also drew 12 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds from Nikko Panganiban and 8 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists from Taywan.
Nueva Ecija got 21 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals from Will McAloney, 15 points and 4 assists from Uyloan and 11 points, 4 steals, 4 assists and 3 rebounds from Chris Bitoon.
