MPBL: Zamboanga hangs on, squeaks past Pasig in OT

MANILA, Philippines – A resurrected Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines squad pulled off a 95-93 overtime squeaker over Pasig MCW Sports on Tuesday in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Zamboanga was given up for dead in regulation after Pasig's Jason Ballesteros' scored on a go-ahead drive, 95-94 Thinking there was no time left, the Pasig players hugged Ballesteros on the floor while their ecstatic coach Boyet Fernandez ran over to the Zamboanga bench in celebration.

It turned out to be premature, however, as there was still a fraction of a second left and so the Sta. Lucia bench was assessed a technical foul, sending Zamboanga's Judel Fuentes to the line.

Fuentes sank the free throw and forced overtime, where he conspired with King Caralipio and Jaycee Marcelino to give Zamboanga its 19th win against eight losses that put last year's losing finalist at the fourth spot in the South Division.

Pasig went up, 91-87, following back-to-back triples by Tyrone Chan and Ryan Paule Costelo, but Fuentes split two charities, Caralipio bunched four points and Marcelino drove in to push Zamboanga ahead, 94-91.

Ballesteros countered with two free throws with 18.7 seconds left before Fuentes pulled down Pasig to 19-9 by splitting two charities anew.

Marcelino wound up with 21 points, four rebounds, two steals and two assists to earn best player honors over Fuentes, who posted 15 points, four rebounds and two steals.

Burly Joseph Gabayni also delivered for Zamboanga with 10 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks.

Pasig got 26 points and seven assists from Costelo, 18 points and four assists from Robbie Manalang, 12 points, eight rebounds and five blocks from Ballesteros, and 11 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three steals from Kenny Roger Rocacurva.

Earlier, the Quezon Huskers subdued the Muntinlupa Cagers, 85-78, while the Pasay Voyagers dumped Quezon City TODA Aksyon V Fresh, 72-64.

Quezon, with Rodel Gravera making 21 points and 10 rebounds, climbed to 18-8 behind Zamboanga.

The Huskers, who led by as far as 47-31, also drew 18 points and 4 rebounds from RJ Minerva and 15 points plus six rebounds from Jason Opiso.

Muntinlupa, which is also assured of a playoff spot like Zamboanga, Pasig and Quezon, tumbled to 15-11 despite the 19-point, six-rebound, five-assist output of Ian Melencio.

Pasay climbed to 16-10 behind the 13 points of Dhon Reverente and 12 each from Jeric Serrano and Laurenz Paul Victoria.

The MPBL visits the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City on Thursday with Iloilo battling Rizal at 4 p.m., Sarangani tackling GenSan at 6 p.m. and San Juan testing Nueva Ecija at 8 p.m.