After playing just one game in their home court at Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum this regular season, Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines is eager to put the 2019-20 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan Season playoffs back in their arena.
Leonard Santillan was one of the catalysts for Zamboanga in their 69-64 upset over defending champion San Juan-Go for Gold, Friday night at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.
The La Salle product punched in 13 points on a healthy 6-of-12 shooting clip alongside eight rebounds — including four on the offensive end — three assists, and a block.
Moreover, Zamboanga moved to a tie for the fourth and fifth spots with Iloilo in the tough Southern division, both sporting 18-11 win-loss cards.
“Lahat kami excited na maglaro ulit sa Zamboanga kasi isang beses pa lang kami nakapag-home court doon, so kailangan naming talunin ang Manila para tumaas pa ‘yung tsansa na makalaro ulit kami doon,” said the 6-foot-5 Cebuano.
Unable to take the fourth spot and the home-court advantage in the quarterfinals, Zamboanga needs another big upset in their last game of the elimination round against second-ranked Manila-Frontrow.
Iloilo also has to lose against Bacoor, its last game of the regular season, for Zamboanga to clinch the fourth seed.
Whenever Zamboanga and the Royals end up on a tie for the fourth and fifth places after the elimination round, the latter would get the homecourt advantage due to their head-to-head match-up, which Iloilo won, 60-58.
In their only game in Zamboanga this season, the Family’s Brand Sardines-backed squad failed to get the win, faltering against Bicol-LCC Stores on August 31, 2019, 84-80.
“Para sa Zamboanga talaga ito. This is for all the Zamboangueños who really supported us. Inaabangan talaga nila na makabalik ang MPBL doon kasi once lang kami naka home court doon eh. Hopefully, we make it back there,” said Zamboanga coach Britt Reroma.
In other matchups, Pasig-Sta. Lucia whipped Valenzuela-Carga Backload Solutions, 90-72; meanwhile, Basilan-Jumbo Plastic derailed Pasay, 74-59.
Story by Justin Valencia
Photo by Nicks Hernandez
