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.