Knights scuttle Patriots; Blades seize solo lead

Frustrated on its debut at home, defending champion Andok’s San Juan bounced backs by routing Nueva Ecija, 110-71, yesterday in the first phase of the Metropolitan Basketball Association season at the New San Luis Sports Complex in Laguna.

The Knights drew big games from starters Bruce Dacia, Rafi Reavis and Chris Calaguio but it was Kalani Ferreria who sparked San Juan’s breakaway in the first half.

Alex Compton scored LBC Batangas’ final seven points as the Blades pounded out a 94-90 victory over the FedEx Laguna Lakers to seize the solo lead with a 2-0 mark.

Ferreria knocked in 15 of his 22 points in the first half, including eight unanswered points in a big San Juan blitz that broke the game wide open.

The high-leaping Dacia and Reavis and the sweet-shooting Calaguio then took over in the second half as the Knights roared to a 19-point lead en route to the victory, which came after the team dropped an 81-84 decision to LBC Batangas in Sunday’s inaugurals at the San Juan Gym.

So overpowering were the Knights that they started out with a 9-0 run and closed out the game in the same fashion. — Joey Villar