PACESETTER Nueva Ecija met stiff resistance from Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines before pulling off its 13th straight win 81-76 in the OKbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season presented by Xtreme at the overcrowded Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.
The Nueva Ecija Vanguards surged ahead 71-61 behind Jonathan Uyloan’s three triples, but the Zamboanguenos bunched seven points, capped by Jhapz Bautista’s triple, to make the game a thriller.
John Bryon Villarias, Michael Mabulac and Hesed Gabo, however, joined forces to quell the rally, 80-74, with 44 seconds to go.
Chris Dumapig drove in for Zamboanga’s final basket, while Pamboy Raymundo split two charities with one tick left to peg the final count that delighted the thousands of Novo Ecijanos in attendance, with hundreds more turned away, no end.
