Marlins, Knights collide

MANILA, Philippines — The Sarangani Marlins get another acid test when they tackle the San Juan Knights today in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season presented by Xtreme at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Beaten by Batangas City (66-75) in its last outing on Aug. 23, Sarangani fell to a 10-3 slate and needs to beat San Juan in their 9 p.m. tussle to boost its drive for a quarterfinals slot in the 22-team tournament.

San Juan should be no pushover, however, as the Go for Gold-supported Knights trounced the Marikina Shoemasters, 81-67, on Aug. 22 to improve to 8-6 and rev up their own drive in the single round-robin elimination phase.

The Marlins will bank on YouTube sensation Kyt Jimenez, Yvan Ludovice, Gabby Espinas and Macky Acosta while the Knights will lean on Judel Fuentes, Michael Calisaan, Orlan Wamar and Marwin Taywan.