Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines quelled San Juan’s final assault and prevailed, 80-66, on Saturday in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the FiloIl Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
With their lead cut to 65-60, the Zamboanguenos regrouped behind twins Jaycee and Jayvee Marcelino, John Mahari and Joseph Gabayni to pad their lead to 76-62 with only 1 minute and 32 seconds left for their 16th win against six losses.
Responding to the steering of new coach Louie Alas, the Zamboanguenos erased a 24-35 deficit, gained control by the end of the third quarter, 57-51, and proceeded to snap San Juan’s 11-game winning run and pull down the Knights to 18-4 in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
In other games, Pasay turned back Negros, 79-73, while Iloilo trounced Quezon City, 77-51.
The burly Gabayni presided over Zamboanga’s balanced offense with 13 points and 6 rebounds, followed by former Knight Judel Fuentes with 12 points plus 7 rebounds, the Marcelinos with 11 points each and former Letran star King Caralipio with 10 points plus 8 rebounds that helped the Zamboanguenos rule the boards, 53-43.
It was a pleasant start for Alas, who had to make do without suspended Zamboanga big men Dexter Maiquez and Chris Dumapig.
San Juan got 18 points from Marwin Taywan, 17 points, 5 rebounds plus 4 steals from Adrian Nocum and 12 points, 9 rebounds plus 5 assists from Orlan Wamar.
The Pasay Voyagers banked on AJ Coronel, homegrown Axel Inigo, Laurenz Victoria and Rommel Mangalino to halt a four-game slide and improve their record to 13-9.
Coronel fired 18 points, Ingo 15 points, 6 assists plus 3 steals, Victoria 15 points, 5 assists plus 3 steals, and Mangalino with 11 points plus 5 rebounds.
