Streaking San Juan withstood Paranaque's final assault and prevailed, 88-82, on Thursday, July 27, in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The San Juan Knights blew a 20-point halftime spread, but kept their composure even as the Paranaque Patriots bunched 10 points to threaten at 77-83 with 1 minute and 48 seconds to go.

Michael Calisaan shines for San Juan

Nikko Panganiban, however, countered with two layups against two charities by Joshua Gallano to ensure the Knights' 11 straight win and an 18-3 record in the roun-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.

Michael Calisaan powered the Knights with 28 points and 7 rebounds, followed by Panganiban with 21 points, 3 rebounds plus 3 assists, and Marwin Taywan with 11 points, 5 steals and 4 assists.

Homegrown John Anthony Umali drilled in back-to-back triples to cap Paranaque's 10-point run and added another triple after Panganiban's last bucket to push the Patriots within 82-87, only 41 seconds left.

Umali wound up with 19 points, laced by five triples, for Paranaque which tumbled to 9-13. The Patriots also got 12 points from Keith Pido, 11 from Paolo Castro and 10 from Joshua Gallano.

Pasig City MCW Sports clobbered Bulacan, 110-79, in the nightcap, while Bataan got tested before tripping Oriental Mindoro, 72-66, in the opener.

Ryan Paule Costelo presided over Pasig's 15th win against 7 losses with a 28-point, 4-rebound, 4-assist effort. The 5-foot-5 sparkplug was supported by Pierce Tyron Chan with 19 points and Kenny Roger Rocacurva with 17 points, 7 rebounds plus 4 assists.

The Bulacan Kuyas dropped to 6-15.

Yves Sazon and Dan Sara posted 16 points each for Bataan, which rose to 9-12, and 10 points from Robbi Marion Darang.

Oriental Mindoro, which dropped to 3-18, got 14 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals from Paolo Hubalde, 12 points and 10 rebounds from Kristan Hernandez and 10 points each from Tey Teodoro and Rodel Vaygan.

The MPBL visits the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay on Friday with Imus battling Laguna at 4 p.m., Pampanga testing Quezon at 6 p.m., and Caloocan facing Pasay at 8 p.m.