Zamboanga and Rizal thwarted their opponents on Saturday and boosted their playoff drives in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Twins Jaycee and Jayvee Marcelino presided over Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines’ 71-67 victory over Bacoor by scoring 14 and 11 points, respectively, in the tight game that saw neither team lead by more than seven points.
Jaycee wound up with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals, while Jayvee ended up with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists for Zamboanga, which climbed to 12-3 in the single-round elimination phase of the 22-team tournament.
Jhaps Bautista also did his share with 12 points for Zamboanga, which pulled down Bacoor to 5-9 as only RJ Ramirez managed to score in double figures with 11.
Rizal Xentromall, on the other hand, drew double digits from Edgar Louie Charcos, Keanu Caballero, Laurenz Paul Victoria and Alvin John Capobres to subdue Valenzuela, 82-73, and improve to 10-5.
Charcos finished with 14 points plus 3 steals, Caballero 13 points plus 4 rebounds, Capobres 11 points plus 9 rebounds and Victoria 11 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds.
Valenzuela was led by Patrick Cabahug with 19 points and 3 assists and Andrey Armenion with 17 points, 9 assists and 5 steals.
Marikina, led by Antonio Lorenzo Joson, trounced Imus, 89-76, in the opener to make it back-to-back and rise to 5-10.
Joson, now Marikina’s main man following the release of Yves Sazon, posted 24 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. He was supported by Jexter Tolentino with 14 points and 11 rebounds, Nhomer Gonzales with 12 points and 9 rebounds and Carl Kenneth Sumalacay with 11 points, 7 rebounds and 5 steals.
Imus, which skidded to 4-10, got 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists from Adven Jess Diputado, 12 points and 9 assists from Jeymark Mallari and 11 points and 4 rebounds from Leo Najorda.
The MPBL flies to General Santos City on Monday with a double-header featuring Quezon City against Bacoor at 7 p.m. and GenSan against Bacolod at 9 p.m.
