Zamboanga Master Sardines and Paranaque won in contrasting fashions on Thursday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Olivarez College Gymnasium in Paranaque.
The Zamboanguenos trounced the Imus Agimat VA Drones, 110-71, while the Paranaque Patriots scrambled past the Rizal Xentromall Golden Coolers, 82-73, in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
The Sarangani Marlins drubbed the Bicolandia Oragons, 101-55, in the opener to improve to 4-11.
In doing so, Zamboanga raised its win-loss record to 12-3 and stayed within sight of the leaders.
Barely ahead, 75-73, with 1 minute and 50 seconds to go, the Patriots scored the nightcap’s final seven points to climb to 9-6 and pull down the Golden Coolers to 8-7.
JP Sarao drilled in a triple, Keith Pido added two free throws and Philip Manalang drove in with 40.6 seconds left to frustrate Rizal, which led at 39-30.
Joshua Gallano paced Paranaque with 18 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks, closely followed by Sarao with 18 points, 3 blocks and 2 rebounds. Jielo Razon contributed 13 points and 6 rebounds while Pido finished with 8 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
Rizal tasted its third straight defeat despite the 30-point, including 6 triples, 6-rebound, 3-steal effort of Alwyn Alday and the 10-point, 6-rebound, 3 assist output of Bambam Gamalinda.
With 14 players scoring, Zamboanga led throughout and was never challenged to rank fifth behind Quezon Province (13-0), Nueva Ecija (12-0), Pampanga (13-1) and San Juan (11-1) in the race for playoff spots.
Robi Julian Nayve led Zamboanga with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, followed by Joseph Gabayni with 14 points and 5 rebounds, Pedrito Galanza with 11 points and Jayboy Solis with 10 points plus 5 rebounds.
The Zamboanguenos, hardly missing Top Gun Jaycee Marcelino, dominated the shaded lane, 53-38 in rebounds, displayed cohesion, 35-15 in assists, and made 11 triples to hand the Imus Drones their 15th straight loss.
Jaymark Mallari tallied 15 points, Larce Christian Sunga 14, Ryan Isaac Sual 13, Coy Alves and Yukihiro Kawamura 12 each, and Marvin
