BACOOR – Zamboanga shackled Caloocan in the last seven minutes and came out a 72-67 winner in the MPBL Datu Cup held recently at the Strike Gymnasium here late Thursday night.
Trailing by seven, 62-55, after Rene Pacquiao scored on a lay up in the 7:08 mark of the final period, the Family’s Brand Sardines-backed Valientes then worked double time on the defensive end and shut down the Supremos.
In the other game, Parañaque survived host Imus in a thrilling finish, 82-81, to move up to fifth spot in the southern division of this fastest growing regional amateur basketball league.
Mac Montilla hit a backbreaking trey while Robin Roño played a career game and made the crucial free throws that ensured the F2 Logistics-sponsored Patriots their eighth win in 15 games.
In between the stops made by the Jhunnie Navarro-owned Valientes, Reed illa caught fire to complete the team’s comeback.
The former Barako Bull player nearly single handedly outscored the entire Longrich-supported Supremos in the entire fourth period as he knocked in 13 of his 18 points.
The Supremos could only come up with 13 markers in the fourth, all of their points in the last seven minutes came via free throws before Paul Sanga hit a buzzer-beating triple at the end of regulation for the final tally.
With the win, Zamboanga got back on the winning track, picking up its sixth win in 13 games and moving up to the eighth spot of the southern division of this tournament put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.
The Supremos absorbed their first back-to-back losses since acquiring Almond Vosotros, the tournament’s leading scorer, who was just held to only eight points.
