Nueva Ecija leaned on Hesed Gabo’s timely explosion to subdue Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines, 81-75, in the opener of their OKbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season Presented by Xtreme National Finals Friday night at the jampacked Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.
The crafty guard poured in 18 of his game-high 22 points in the fourth quarter.
A former Mapua Cardinal, Gabo also grabbed 6 rebounds and issued 6 assists to earn best player honors and frustrate the Zamboanguenos, who gamely battled the favored Rice Vanguards from the get-go.
John Bryon Villarias Villarias also shone for Nueva Ecija with 19 points while Michael Mabulac contributed 14 points and 5 rebounds before fouling out with 1:25 to go. Will McAloney also did his part with 11 points and 5 rebounds for the Rice Vanguards of Coach Jerson Cabiltes.
Nueva Ecija unleashed a 9-1 run closing the third quarter for a 56-48 lead.
Zamboanga, however, retaliated with a 7-point bomb, through Jaycee Marcelino and Jhapz Bautista, to tighten the game once again, 56-55.
Zambanga forged the last deadlock at 60, only to be met by a Villarias triple and 2 charities by Gabo that set the tone for the finish.
Mabulac became the 13th member of the MPBL 1000-point club and was given the ball he used to score the vital points by Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes.
