BACOLOD City – Zamboanga-Family’s Brand Sardines dealt Bacolod BingoPlus a heartbreaking 74-71 beating to stay unbeaten in the 2022 MPBL Season on Tuesday night at the University of St. La Salle Gym here.
Bacolod City were ahead 71-67 with over two minutes left but Zamboanga turned things around with a three-point play from Jaycee Marcelino and a fastbreak layup by Ralph Tansingco to take a 72-71 lead with six seconds left.
Bacolod City still had a chance to steal the win but Raymund Ilagan misfired from close range before Marcelino put the nail in the coffin for Zamboanga with a buzzer-beating layup.
Marcelino was hailed as the Player of the Game after finishing with 18 points, five rebounds and five assists to lead Zamboanga City, which maintained its unblemished slate of 8-0.
Jeffrey Comia chipped in 12 markers, including some crucial three-point baskets in the fourth quarter, while Adrian Santos contributed 10 markers for the Family’s Brand Sardines.
Zamboanga City were on its way to dominating the match after building a 48-35 lead in the third period but Bacolod City banked on Jeramer Cabanag, Mark Yee and Jhan Nermal to take a 56-55 lead.
The momentum was still on the side of Bacolod City in the fourth quarter as they built a 69-62 lead on free throws by Kraniel Villoria and a triple by Alwyn Alday but Zamboanga City quickly erased the lead behind Marcelino and Comia.
Yee tallied double-double 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Cabanag added 10 markers as Bacolod City suffered its fourth defeat in the last five matches to slump to 5-4 win-loss record.
It was also Bacolod City’s second consecutive defeat at their home turf following an 81-74 triple overtime defeat at the hands of Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards on Monday evening.
Meanwhile, Rice Vanguards stretched its unbeaten record to 10 games after a 68-61 beating of Valenzuela City MJaz Zenith (4-6). Bacolodnon John Byron Villarias was hailed as the Player of the Game with 12 points and four rebounds.
BOX SCORE:
ZAMBOANGA 74 – JC Marcelino 18, Comia 12, Santos 10, JV Marcelino 8, Mabayo 7, Celda 7, Mahari 4, Jaime 2, Palencia 2, Bautista 2, Tansingco 2, Salim 0, Mosqueda 0, Tabi 0.
BACOLOD 71 – Yee 16, Cabanag 10, Lao 9, Nermal 8, Villoria 8, Jeruta 5, Ilagan 4, Alday 4, Dionson 3, Tulipas 2, Albo 2, Solis 0, Lee Yu 0.
Quarterscores: 24-15, 40-32, 55-56, 74-71./PN
