NUEVA Ecija seeks a sweep as Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines fights for life in Game 3 of the OKbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season Presented by Xtreme National Finals today at the Mayor Vitaliano Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City.
The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards thwarted the Zamboanguenos, 81-75, in Game 1 and 75-74 in Game 2, both at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum, to move within a win of completing a brilliant run that saw them sweep the elimination round and capture the North division title.
Zamboanga, however, has proven to be no pushover and is sure to pour everything to give joy to the hometown crowd.
The Zamboanguenos have shown their worthiness as South division champions, crumbling only in the last six minutes of Game 1 and simply running out of time to reverse the outcome in Game 2.
Nueva Ecija coach Jerson Cabiltes wants to complete the (championship) task at hand and prevent a Game 4 or the full Game 5 of the series.
“Sana,” Cabiltes said before his flight to Zamboanga Thursday morning. “Zamboanga is also strong.”
To achieve their goal, Cabiltes said the Rice Vanguards must not allow the Zamboanguenos “to make another scoring run in the first half” and “take care of the ball much better.”
Cabiltes was referring to the spate of turnovers his wards committed in the homestretch that enabled the Zamboanguenos to stage a final assault.
