San Juan trounced Batangas City Tanduay, 83-69, on Friday, July 19, to boost its campaign in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Batangas City Coliseum.

The San Juan Knights led throughout and by as far as 52-27 to raise their record to 15-1 in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.

Marwin Taywan and Paolo Hernandez presided over a balanced San Juan offense with 10 points each. They were supported by Orlan Wamar, Zachary Huang and Nikko Panganiban with nine points each.

With Huang snagging 11 rebounds, the Knights ruled the boards, 50-29, and converted it to 46 points against only 28 for the Rum Masters, who solely missed top gunner Levi Hernandez.

Batangas, which skidded to 12-5, got 18 points and nine rebounds from Cedric Ablaza and 11 points from Juneric Baloria.

The Knights also shot better with 10 triples out of 27 tries against only 3 out of 23 for the Rum Masters.

San Juan surged ahead, 78-54, following a triple by John Galinato, but Batangas trimmed the gap somewhat, 67-78, with 2 minutes and 35 seconds left behind Philip Paniamogan's six points.

The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards quelled the Iloilo United Royals' final rally to prevail, 78-73, earlier.

With Iloilo threatening at 70-71, Nueva Ecija bunched six points to ease the pressure and rose to 14-2.

Robby Celiz powered the Rice Vanguards with 22 points and 10 rebounds, followed by John Wilson with 13 points and five rebounds. They were backed by Billy Robles with 12 points and four rebounds and Mer Jesper Ayaay with 11 points and six rebounds.

Iloilo dropped to 7-11 despite Mark Nonoy's 15-point, 9-assist, 5-rebound, 3-steal effort, CJ Catapusan's 14-point, 7-rebound output, France Diaz's 12-point, 8-rebound, 5-assist, 2-assist line and Gwyne Capacio's 11-point, 3-rebound contribution.

Negros erected a 24-point spread and used it as buffer to nip Bacolod, 96-92, in the opener and improve to 8-11.

Buenaventura Raflores led the Negros Muscovados with 22 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks.

Bacolod tumbled to 1-18 despite the 30-point, 11-rebound, 6-assist, 4-steal explosion of Louie Vigil.

The MPBL goes to the Cuneta Astrodome on Friday with games pitting Zamboanga against Quezon City at 4 p.m., South Cotabato against Abra at 6 p.m., and Quezon against Pasay at 8 p.m.