QUEZON Province foiled Sarangani's fightbacks and prevailed, 72-68, on Thursday to become the solo leader in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Paco Arena in Manila.
Ximone Sandagon and L-Jay Gonzales canned two free throws each to shatter the last deadlock at 68-all with 23.7 seconds left to lift the Huskers to their 12th win in as many games in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
Total team effort at the top
It was, however, Gab Banal who shone brightest for Quezon with 18 points, three assists, two rebounds, and two steals. Gonzales finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and three steals, while Domark Matillano ended up with 11 points, spiked by three triples.
The Huskers could not pull away, as the Marlins kept coming back through Ryan Isaac Sual, Marvin Hayes, and Jaymark Mallari.
Sual wound up with 18 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while Hayes submitted a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds plus two assists for Sarangani, which tumbled to 3-11.
Marvelous Marcelino
Zamboanga then leaned on Jaycee Marcelino to subdue Rizal, 77-69, and rise to an 11-3 slate.
Showing the form that made him the MPBL Fourth Season MVP, Marcelino posted 31 points, seven rebounds, six assists, two steals, and two blocks. He joined forces with Bong Galanza for 20 fourth quarter points to outscore all of the Golden Coolers who only mustered 19.
Galanza finished with 15 points, three assists, and two rebounds, while Mark Omega tallied 10 points and 12 rebounds for coach Louie Alas.
Rizal, which fell to 8-6, got 20 points, six rebounds, and two assists from Bambam Gamalinda; 12 points, six rebounds, and four steals from Alwyn Alday; nine points plus eight rebounds from Marco Balagtas; and six points, nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals from Kraniel Villoria.
Bicolandia, meantime, nipped Imus, 107-104, back-to-back wins and a 2-12 record.
RJ Deles paced the Oragons with 25 points, 16 rebounds plus six assists, followed by Shaq Alanes with 24 points, five assists plus three rebounds and Lord Casajeros with 16 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists.
Imus remained winless after 14 starts despite the 37-point, 10-rebound explosion of John Rey Sumido, the 23-point, 10-rebound, 7-assist effort of Fil-Am Richard Popovic and the 12-point, 10-rebound output of Wowie Kadir.
The MPBL visits the Olivarez College Gymnasium on Friday with games pitting Marikina against Muntinlupa at 4 p.m., San Juan against Bacolod at 6 p.m., and Binan against Paranaque at 8 p.m.
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