Jaycee Marcelino sustained his brilliance in Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines’ journey to the National Finals to earn MVP honors in the OKbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season Presented by Xtreme on Friday at the Mayor Vitaliano Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City.
The mercurial guard out of the Lyceum University Pirates spearheaded Zamboanga to an 18-3 record in the elimination round and eventually the South division crown at the expense of Batangas City Embassy Chill.
Seeing action for 26 minutes each outing, the 5-foot-9 Marcelino posted well-rounded averages of 17 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.6 steals thus far.
MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes awarded Marcelino with the MVP trophy plus a Suzuki Avenis, courtesy of Suzuki Mindanao Regional Sales Manager Joel Martin, before Game 3 of the Nueva Ecija title series started.
The 27-year-old Marcelino, whose twin brother Jayvee also plays for Zamboanga, said he’s hoping that the Zamboanguenos would be able to beat Nueva Ecija, which took the first two games, 81-75, and 75-74, respectively, to move within a win of becoming the 2022 MPBL national champion.
Marcelino bested Nueva Ecija’s Hesed Gabo and Will McAloney, San Juan’s Juel Fuentes and Batangas’ Cedric Ablaza for MVP honors.
