Jayvee Marcelino won’t stay under the shadows of his twin brother Jaycee forever.
Hours after Jaycee was named MVP of the OKbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season Presented by Xtreme Friday night, Jayvee earned best player honors after powering Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines past Nueva Ecija, 75-65, in Game 3 and extending the National Finals at the Mayor Vitaliano Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City.
Jayvee fired 22 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and handed three assists to bring the best-of-five playoffs to 2-1 after Nueva Ecija took the first two games.
Jaycee was held to nine points but proved his all-around value again with 10 rebounds, nine assists, and four steals.
Ralph Tansingco also provided scoring support with 15, all from triples, while Chris Dumapig contributed 10 points and nine rebounds for Zamboanga coach Vic Ycasiano.
Nueva Ecija, which won Game 1, 81-75, and Game 2, 75-74, got 15 points and eight rebounds from Michael Mabulac and 14 points and five rebounds from Byron Villarias. Game 1 hero Hesed Gabo was held scoreless as no other Rice Vanguard drilled in double figures for Coach Jerson Cabiltes.
Zamboanga, starring Jayvee and Tansingco took a 38-28 lead at halftime and led by as far as 48-32 before Nueva Ecija struck back with a nine-point cluster.
Game 4 will be held at the same venue on December 12 with Zamboanga seeking to equalize and Nueva Ecija aiming to seal the series.
