Squeaker sends Zamboanga to national finals

MANILA, Philippines — Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines clawed back from a deep pit to stun Batangas City Embassy Chill, 67-66, and snatch the South division crown in the OKbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season Presented by Xtreme at the Vitaliano Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City.

Trailing by as many as 19 points in the third quarter, 35-54, Zamboanga banked on a hangtime drive by Jaycee Marcelino with 39 seconds left to complete the brilliant comeback that put Zamboanga in the National Finals against North division champion Nueva Ecija.

Showing why he’s the MPBL All-Star MVP, Marcelino wound up with 14 points, seven rebounds, six assists and five steals to lead Zamboanga to a 2-1 series victory.

The Game 3 decider wasn’t devoid of drama as Batangas coach Cholo Villanueva confronted MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes at the center of the court asking for a decision on Cyrus Tabi’s infraction of hanging on the ring with still 0.9 seconds to go.

Little did Villanueva know that the technical committee has already ruled for a technical foul on Tabi, which should have merited a technical free throw for Batangas.

Because of his disrespectful attitude, technical committee head George Magsino slapped a technical foul on Villanueva for entering the court, thus cancelling out Tabi’s technical violation.

Batangas was still ahead, 63-54, until Marcelino, his twin brother Jayvee and Tabi knocked in a triple each to set up the thrilling finish.

After Zamboanga’s Jhaymo Eguilos knotted the count at 65, Cedric Ablaza put Batangas ahead anew by splitting his two free throws, 66-65, before Marcelino came through with that drive over Ablaza.

Jhaps Bautista scored 15 points for Zamboanga, with Tabi contributing 11 points.

Duremdes awarded the championship trophy to Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines team owner Anita Kaw.

“I gave credit to my boys, They never gave up,” said Zamboanga Coach Vic Ycasiano. I never doubted the team. I know they will deliver in the end.”

Batangas was ahead in the game for 36 minutes and 37 seconds, while Zamboanga led for only 1 minute and 2 seconds, fortunately, it happened at the right moment.

Batangas got 16 points from Juenric Balorfia, 14 from Ablaza and 11 from John Rey Villaueva.

Zamboanga fared poorly from the charity stripe, making just 15 of 34, including 2 of 10 in the fourth quarter.

Down by 19 points, 35-54, Zamboanga bunched 11 points through the efforts of Ralph Tansingco and Tabi with a triple each, Chris Dumapig, Marcelino and a free throw by Chito Jaime to come closer.

Batangas led by 17 points twice, the last at 41-24, but Zamboanga managed to make it 44-30 at halftime on an off-balance drive by Jaycee Marcelino.

Dictating the tempo from the start, Batangas surged ahead, 15-6, but back-to-back triples by Bautista pushed Zamboanga to within, 15-6.

Batangas subdued Zamboanga, 80-71, in the series opener, but exacted revenge in Game 2,  63-53, to force the decider.

Zamboanga and Nueva Ecija begin their best-of-five title playoffs on December 2 at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.

The Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines team, led by the team owner Anita Kaw, poses with the division championship crown, awarded by MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes.