MPBL: Ayonayon provides killer blow as Knights draw first blood vs Lanterns

Mike Ayonayon (18) celebrates with his teammates.

San Juan Knights guard Mike Ayonayon has proven he was built for these type of moments.

He’s done it last year with a 33-point performance in a winner-take-all Game 5 in the MPBL national finals.

Last Saturday night against a foe equipped to end the Knights reign in the Chooks-To-Go MPBL Lakan playoffs, Ayonayon once again gave his future PBA team, the NLEX Road Warriors, a glimpse of his brilliance while taking San Juan closer to the North division finals.

Ayonayon delivered another signature moment with a buzzer beating floater as the Knights overcame the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, 86-84, at the start of their best of three semifinal series at Filoil Flying V Centre.

“The instruction was to take the last shot whatever happens and I was ready,” Ayonayon said in Filipino. “I was fortunate I got the bounce, but that’s a shot I’ve practiced so many times.”

Manila also closed in on the division finals after thumping Makati, 77-74.