With five players scoring in double figures, San Juan had a trouble-free ride dispatching Cam Norte, 122-81, to barge its way to the quarterfinal round of the PSL President’s Cup just recently at the Paco Arena.
Joseph Ubalde had a breakthrough performance, scoring 20 points and hitting 10-of-11 shots while getting ample support from the rest of the Kings, who will face the winner of JT Bulacan-SGA St. Benilde knockout match.
JT Bulacan forced a rubber match after bringing down St. Benilde, 66-64, as Itchie Altamirano caught fire in the endgame.
But the Kings barely broke out a sweat in beating the Warriors of Cam Norte as AC Soberano, Orlan Wamar, Mike Malonzo and Arvin Gamboa, scored 10 points or more.
“We have a strong chance right now as compared to last year because our players right now are all healthy,” said San Juan coach Senator Jinggoy Estrada. “Nagkakaroon na rin sila ng chemistry.”
Just a year removed playing in the PBA, Soberano scattered 17 markers, including four three-point shots, while also dishing out four assists for the Kings.
Wamar, the spitfire mainstay guard, contributed 14 points and distributed six assists while Malonzo added 13 and Gamboa had 10 for the Kings, who shot a steady 54% (46-of-84) from the field and outrebounded their counterparts, 54-33.
San Juan played with much more fluidity, completing 43 assists, 22 more than Cam Norte.
