San Juan cruises to 11th win dominant showing over Valenzuela
The San Juan Knights continued their stellar season with a commanding 84–65 victory over the Valenzuela City Magic, notching their 11th win in dominant fashion on Monday at the Batangas City Coliseum.
San Juan imposed its will — and AC Soberano led the charge with a red-hot shooting performance that left Valenzuela scrambling. Soberano drilled six triples, accounting for all 18 of his points from beyond the arc, earning him Best Player of the Game honors.
The Knights set the tone early, taking a 43–29 halftime lead and never looking back. Their defense clamped down, rebounding with authority and capitalizing on second-chance opportunities. San Juan outrebounded Valenzuela 52–34 and dished out 26 assists in a team-first effort that overwhelmed the visiting squad.
Stat Standouts – San Juan Knights:
- Joseph Ubalde nearly posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, adding hustle plays and two steals.
- Jose Manuel Sabandal was all over the court with 13 points, 7 boards, and 7 assists, proving to be the glue guy yet again.
- Kraniel Villoria chipped in with 11 points and 4 dimes, offering steady guard play off the bench.
Despite Valenzuela’s struggles, there were bright spots. Jan Formento led their scoring with 14 points, showing efficiency at 6-of-10 shooting, while Kyle Neypes and JJ Gesalem added 10 and 9 points respectively. Gesalem’s three triples gave the Magic brief sparks, but it wasn’t enough to challenge the Knights’ momentum.
Valenzuela fell short in almost every statistical category, including field goals (39% to San Juan’s 42%) and assists (18 to San Juan’s 26), further highlighting San Juan’s control on both ends.
San Juan continues to look like a serious title contender, combining deadly perimeter shooting, rebounding dominance, and selfless team play. With this win, the Knights remain firmly entrenched in the upper echelon of the standings, while Valenzuela searches for answers heading into the back stretch of the season.
Next up: San Juan looks to ride the wave of momentum into their next matchup against Parañaque Patriots on June 7, while Valenzuela must regroup and tighten up on defense if they hope to bounce back against Bacolod Tubo Slashers on June 2.
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