By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno | PNA
MANILA — The Manila Stars hung on despite a late mini surge from the San Juan Knights and took a 91-88 win in Game 1 of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Northern Division Finals at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City early Friday.
The Stars held a 90-85 lead with 1:16 left in the tight encounter, but the Knights scored three points in succession to trim the gap to two with 51.5 seconds remaining.
Aris Dionisio kept San Juan in the game when he only made a split from the line off a Jonard Clarito foul, but Marcy Arellano picked Mike Ayonayon’s pass and Manila got to milk the clock only to be stopped when Marvin Hayes called for steps with 3.3 seconds to go.
With no timeout left, Orlan Wamar had to run the court for a desperation triple that went offline as time expired.
Dionisio finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, four steals, and two blocks for the fourth-seeded Stars, who can eliminate the third-seeded Knights at the San Andres Sports Complex on Saturday night.
John Wilson made 19 points, eight caroms, six dishes, and one steal for the Knights, who suffered their first loss at home this season.
