Games Tuesday (FilOil Flying V Centre, San Juan)
Marikina vs Nueva Ecija (4 p.m.)
Pasay vs Bulacan (6 p.m.)
Valenzuela vs San Juan (8 p.m)
Zamboanga Master Sardines quelled Bataan’s final rallies to prevail, 79-72, on Monday, June 3, and stay close to the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season elimination round pacesetters at the Orion Sports Center in Bataan.
Ahead nearly all the way, the Zamboanguenos briefly yielded the lead, 60-62, as the Risers greeted the fourth quarter with an 8-point cluster.
After three deadlocks, Zamboanga strung six points behind Joseph Gabayni’s back-to-back layups and John Mahari’s two charities to regain control, 72-66, entering the last two minutes.
Bataan’s Ronjay Lastimosa canned a triple with 1:47 to go, but Zamboanga held the fort and proceeded to tally its ninth win against two losses by making seven straight charities, the last six by Enzo Subido, against a triple by Yves Sazon.
Exploiting his burly 6-foot-5 frame, Gabayni finished with 20 points, 13 rebounds and 2 blocks to earn best player honors. Former MPBL MVP Jaycee Marcelino provided support with 11 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals, followed by Subido with 11 points and Ady Santos with 9 points and 11 rebounds.
Bataan, which tasted its fifth straight defeat for a 3-8 slate got 21 points and 7 rebounds from Mitchelle Maynes and 12 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists from Lastimosa.
The Muntinlupa Cagers banked on Alfred Reyes and Joshua Guiab to thwart the Oragons’ repeated assaults and improve to 3-8.
