ZAMBOANGA’S Family’s Brand Sardines quelled San Juan’s final assault and prevailed 80-66 last 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 60-65, the Zamboanguenos regrouped behind twins Jaycee and Jayvee Marcelino, John Mahari and Joseph Gabayni and secured their 16th win against six losses, 76-62, with 1:32 left.
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 Juna’s 11-game winning run and pull down the Knights to 18-4 in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
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, a multi-titled coach with Letran in the NCAA, the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association, the Philippine team and the Asean Basketball League, who has to make do without suspended Zamboanga big men Dexter Maiquez and Chris Dumapig.
