Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines turned hot and spicy in the fourth quarter and routed Rizal XentroMall, 74-57, on Saturday in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the Bataan People’s Center in Balanga.
Spiced up by Jaycee Marcelino, Zamboanga scored 11 points while holding Rizal scoreless for over 4 minutes to break away and tally its 12th win against 3 losses in the single round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 29-team tournament.
Showing why he’s the league’s reigning MVP, Marcelino posted a game-high 27 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists to earn the best player honors for Zamboanga, last year’s South conference titlist and the 2023 MPBL Preseason Invitational champion.
Marcelino received ample support from his twin Jayvee, Adi Santos, and Joseph Gabayni, who each scored 12 points, and homegrown John Mahari, who added 7 points along with a game-high 12 rebounds.
Jayvee Marcelino also grabbed 7 rebounds and issued 6 assists, in addition to sinking back-to-back triples that buried Rizal to its 11th loss in 17 starts.
No Rizal player was able to score in double digits, with homegrown Troy Mallillin finishing with 9 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals.
In other games, Iloilo subdued Bacolod, 80-73, and Imus foiled Bataan, 75-68.
The Iloilo United Royals crawled out of an 18-point hole (8-26) to snap a 5-game skid and catch up with their victim at 6-10.
Former San Beda star Justine Sanchez sparkled for Iloilo with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 assists, receiving help from fellow former Red Lion Tony Ynot, who contributed 16 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks for Coach Manu Inigo.
Bacolod got 18 points from Dom Matillano, 13 from John Cantimbuhan, and 10 from Coy Alves.
Powered by Jaymar Gimpayan and Carlo Lastimosa, the Imus SV Squad pulled away at 70-55 before coasting to their 6th win against 8 losses.
Gimpayan fired 19 points, grabbed 21 rebounds, issued 5 assists, and blocked 5 shots, while Lastimosa contributed 16 points, including 3 triples.
Bataan, which fell to 6-9, got 17 points from James Castro, 12 from Yves Sazon, and 10 from Jamil Gabawan.
The MPBL visits the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan on Monday with a triple bill pitting Manila against Valenzuela at 4 p.m., Pasay against Pampanga at 6 p.m., and Batangas against San Juan at 8 p.m.
