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By Robert Balajadia

Knights’ Cedric Sevilla gets swarmed with defensive hands as he attempts to put back a missed shot off his offensive rebound. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

The St. John’s Knights defeated the St. Paul Warriors behind an standout performance from Knights guard Archie Flores, who scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to beat the Warriors 57-52 at the Knights gym Friday night.  Flores finished with a team high 21 points and seven assists.

“Credit goes to my teammates.  I found holes in the defense and they kept passing it to me.  I tried to be aggressive, get to the line and if they laid off me take a jump shot,” stated Flores on his fourth quarter hot-streak.

St. John’s were leading 53-49 with 30 seconds to play when Flores took the initiative to get the ball in his hands to hit clutch free-throws, suppressing a Warrior comeback. The Knights guard iced the game at the charity stripe hitting all four free throws in the final seconds of the game to secure the win.

McDonald’s player of the game: Knights; Argie Flores. 21 points, 7 assists

“I do feel pressure, it comes with the responsibility of being a team captain.  My coach trusts me and the team trusts me with it so I’ve got to do my job and hit those free throws,” stated Flores on the late game situational.

The Knights were clinging to a 39-37 lead heading into the fourth quarter before Flores scored seven straight points for St. John’s who led 46-39 with five minutes left to play.  Warriors guard Sheik Carino had a tough time scoring, shooting 27% for the game despite being the leading scorer with 24 points.

Carino was also the victim of a vicious block down the stretch laid on by Knights center Reed Meyer.  Trailing 53-49 in the final minute, Carino intercepted a pass intended for Knights Cedric Sevilla and had a one-on-one fast break with Flores where Carino created contact trying to draw the foul on the lay-up attempt when Meyer soared over his teammate to tag Carino with one of his signature blocks which flew out of bounds, getting the entire Knights fans off their seat.

Warriors’ Sheik Carino slices through the defense to attempt the acrobatic layup but gets fouled in the process. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

Sevilla tipped the inbound pass off the blocked play straight in the hands of Meyer who dished it to Flores to ice the game at the line.

The Knights never trailed in the game and only had one tie at 37 all.  The Warriors had a tough time at the free-throw line going just 4-15 compared to the Knights 9-10.

The Knights led by as many as 12 points in the second quarter but a late quarter surge by Carino and Warriors center John Patrick San Andres trimmed to lead to 28-25 at the half.  The third quarter was Carino’s best showing, scoring seven straight points to tie the game at 37.

Sevilla add 12 points for the Knights alongside Meyer’s 10 points, 10 rebounds and two vicious blocks.  San Andres added 8 points and 11 rebounds for the Warriors in the loss.

The Warriors suffer just their third loss of the season (10-3) while the Knights improve to (7-6) with the win.  Okkodo takes the top spot in the Taga division with their 46-43 win over the Sanchez Sharks.

Other Scores

FD 67, Notre Dame 53

GW 50, Southern 48 (OT)

JFK 89, Harvest 59

Okkodo 46, Sanchez 43

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Warriors’ John San Andres contests the shot of Knights’ Reed Meyer. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

Warriors’ John Pangelinan scores the reverse layup through the defense of Knights’ Reed Meyer. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

Warriors’ Adrian Manansala attempts the courageous layup against the brick-wall defense of Knights’ Reed Meyer. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

Warriors’ Sheik Carino pulls up to take the one handed jumper. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

Warriors’ John San Andres attempts the turn around jumper over the defense of Knights’ Reed Meyer. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

Knights’ Argie Flores attempts the double pump layup though the defense of Warriors’ Brian Tsuijii. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

Knights’ Reed Meyer skies toward the rim to score the easy layup early in the game. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

Knights’ Reed Meyer gets the standing block on Warriors’ Brian Tsujii who attempts the jumper. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

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