San Juan Knights-Go for Gold returned to the national finals with a 131-54 walkover against a 5-player Makati Super Crunch in the decisive Game 3 of their MPBL Lakan Season North Division Finals on Wednesday at Subic Gymnasium.

Makati, which came into the game tied with San Juan 1-1 in their best-of-3 series, had to do without its key players reportedly due to salary disputes.

Knights, led by Mike Ayonayon, will face the winner of the South Division tussle between Basilan-Jumbo Plastic and Davao Occidental-Cocolife.

• MPBL: Game vs. Davao postponed after Basilan player tests positive for COVID-19

"Ang tagal natuloy ng game na ito. Matagal nakapahinga ang mga players, so medyo rusty. Pero sabi ni coach, go with the flow lang," said Ayonayon, who got a clearance from the NLEX Road Warriors to join the Knights for the MPBL Lakan playoffs.

Ayonayon led San Juan with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.

San Juan, which is pursuing its second straight MPBL title, topped the North Division with a 26-4 win-loss record.

• MPBL: Makati will have just 5 players available vs. San Juan

They copped the North Division title by eliminating Makati 2-1 in their best-of-3 playoffs series.

Basilan and Davao Occidental were supposed to duke it out on Wednesday but their rubber match was postponed after a Basilan player tested positive for COVID-19.

The MPBL resumed the Lakan Cup in a bubble setting after getting the green light from the Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19.

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