Rizal leaned on experience, depth, and a clutch overtime surge to defeat the San Juan Knights, 94–89, finally entering the win column at 1–2 while handing San Juan its first loss of the season (2–1).
The contest was tightly fought from start to finish, with both teams trading baskets and momentum swings. San Juan’s inside presence, led by Mike Phillips, kept them in control for stretches. Phillips posted a dominant double-double of 15 points and 18 rebounds, anchoring the Knights’ interior on both ends.
Harold Alarcon added 13 points, while Gerry Abadiano contributed 9. Off the bench, Terrence Fortea caught fire from beyond the arc, finishing with 14 points on four triples, providing timely scoring runs that helped San Juan stay neck-and-neck with Rizal. Still, the Knights were undone by inefficiency in crucial moments—particularly from the free-throw line and long range—which prevented them from closing out the game in regulation.
On the other hand, Rizal responded with balance and poise. Billy Robles delivered a standout performance to earn Best Player of the Game honors, finishing with 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals on 61% shooting. He made key plays in overtime, helping Rizal finally create separation after an 83-all deadlock at the end of regulation.
Robles’ championship experience—alongside teammate Mark Yee, both former members of the Davao Occidental Lakan Cup title team—showed in the extra period, where Rizal executed better on both ends. Joel Lee Yu and Marco Balagtas each scored 14 points, with the latter knocking down three triples. Jake Gaspay added 12 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, while Mark Yee chipped in 10 markers.
Support came from across the roster. Ed Daquiaog paced all scorers for Marikina with 14 points off the bench, while Lander Canon was nearly flawless, finishing with 11 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting along with 12 rebounds. Deo Timajo added 8 points, including two triples that fueled the comeback.
Rizal’s depth proved decisive, as their bench production and ball movement (29 assists) allowed them to maintain composure down the stretch. In overtime, they capitalized on San Juan’s missed opportunities to seal the five-point victory.
Box Score
Rizal (94): Robles 17, Balagtas 14, Lee Yu 14, Gaspay 12, Sarao 10, Yee 10, Mendoza 7, Caballero 6, Manalang 2, Alday 2, Victoria 0, Coronel 0, Gob II 0, Panganiban 0, Zaldivar 0
San Juan (89): Phillips 15, Fortea 14, Alarcon 13, Abadiano 9, Calisaan 9, Wamar 6, Ramos 5, Maiquez 5, Panganiban 4, Sleat 4, Kwekuteye 3, Hugnatan 2, Soberano 0, Soyud 0, Torres 0