Zamboanga Master Sardines rode the hot hands of Pedrito Galanza Jr. to rout Paranaque, 94-66, on Monday, Oct. 14, forcing a deciding Game 3 in their South Division quarterfinal series in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) at the Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City.
Galanza canned three straight triples in a 13-1 blitz that pushed Zamboanga away, 81-61, with 6 minutes and 4 seconds to go.
There was no stopping Zamboanga from there as Renzo Subido and Chito Jaime also struck and Jayvee Marcelino knocked in another triple to seal the outcome, 91-68, going to the last two minutes.
Zamboanga avenged its 79-83 loss to Paranaque in Game 1 of their series and will have the homecourt advantage again in Game 3 on Monday, Oct. 21.
Galanza tallied 20 points, with 5 triples, in a 12-minute, 19-second stint and was chosen the Daily Fantasy best player over Jaycee Marcelino, who posted 18 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals, and Subido, who contributed 16 points and 4 assists.
Spitfire Rey Joey Barcuma also delivered for Zamboanga Coach Louie Alas with 8 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds.
Paranaque, which trailed by only a point (41-42) at halftime, got 14 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists from JP Sarao and 11 each from JR Olegario and Keith Pido.
Earlier, the Quezon Huskers waxed hot in the second half to batter the Negros Muscovados, 94-66, and advance to the South Division semifinals.
Living up to their top seeding in the division, the Huskers led by as far as 90-55 late in the fourth quarter to duplicate their easy 73-60 victory in Game One and cut short the best-of-three quarterfinal series.
The Huskers will next meet the series winner between Paranaque and Zamboanga.
Held to a 27-27 count midway through the second quarter, Quezon took the break at 44-31.
RJ Minerva and Robin Rono presided over Quezon’s onslaught in the second half, where Negros’ guns fell silent.
The 6-foot-5 Minerva tallied 16 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in a 20-minute, 26-second stint, while Rono posted 15 points and 6 rebounds in just 15 minutes and 14 seconds to clinch the Faily Fantasy best player honors.
Al Francis Tamsi contributed 15 points and 5 rebounds while Mon Abundo added 10 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for Quezon Coach Eric Gonzales.
Negros, the No. 8 South qualifier, got 20 points, 8 assists and 3 rebounds from Felipe Chavez and 11 points from John Rey Villanueva.
The gang-rebounding Huskers ruled the boards, 48-32, and translated that advantage to a 36-18 edge in points inside the paint.
The MPBL continues on Wednesday with the North Division quarterfinal playoffs pitting Pampanga against Abra at 6 p.m. and Pasay against Nueva Ecija at 8 p.m. at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.
