ZAMBOANGA Sikat stretched its hot streak with a hard-earned 82-77 victory over Quezon City Galeries Taipan on Saturday in the MPBL 2025 Season at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.
The Taipans threatened at 77-80 following two free throws and a jumper by Dave Bernabe, but James Sena countered with two charities to seal Zamboanga's fifth straight win and a 10-2 record in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
The Zamboanguenos trail only the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards (10-0), the San Juan Knights (9-0), the Pampanga Giant Lanterns (9-1) and the Abra Weavers (9-1) in the MPBL leadership.
Abdul Sawat led Zamboanga with 14 points, five rebounds and five assists, although he left the game in the homestretch after dislocating a finger.
Sena and John Arthur Calisay added 12 points apiece while JP Cauilan chipped in 11 points and six boards for Zamboanga.
Sawat, Med Salim and John Edcel Rojas joined forces to push Zamboanga ahead, 73-61, midway through the fourth quarter, but Nino Ibanez bunched eight points to narrow the gap, 71-77, with a minute and 41 seconds left.
Quezon City skidded to 3-8 despite Jayson Puray's 13 points and four assists.
The MPBL returns to the Orion Sports Complex on Monday with games pitting Abra against Bacolod at 4 p.m., Caloocan against Pampanga at 6 p.m., and Ilagan against host Bataan at 8 p.m.
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