Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines pounced on a cold Batangas City Embassy Chill in the fourth quarter to tally a 63-53 victory and force a Game 3 decider for the South division crown of the OKbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season Presented by Xtreme at the people-packed Batangas City Coliseum.
Both teams struggled on offense in the last 10 minutes, but the Zamboanguenos’ fared better with 15 points, 9 courtesy of Adrian Santos, who matched the 9-point output of the entire Batangas crew.
Santos, a former Batangas player, wound up with 13 points and 8 rebounds and was named best player of the game.
Jhaps Bautista led the Zamboanga scorers with 17 points, although he was held to 3 points in the second half.
Zamboanga’s Top Gun Jaycee Marcelino wound up with 12 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals.
Batangas got 13 points and 10 rebounds from Cedric Ablaza and 11 points and 8 rebounds from Jeckster Apinan.
Zamboanga, which lost to Batangas in the series opener, 71-80, at home, will assume the favorite’s role when the series returns to the Vitaliano Agan Coliseum for the concluding Game 3 with the winner advancing to the National Finals against the victor of the North division title series between Nueva Ecija and San Juan.
Zamboanga subdues Batangas, forces decider for South crown
