The Parañaque Patriots complete the upset over the Zamboanga Master Sardines in the do-or-die game of the best-of-three series of the quarterfinals of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Season 6 playoffs.
The Patriots bounced back harder after a blowout game 2 loss against Zamboanga last October 14 right in front of Zamboanga’s home crowd at the Mayor Vitaliano D. Again Coliseum in Zamboanga Del Sur. Playoff intensity surely kicked off with both teams trying their best to capture the win to advance to the next round. But, ultimately, No.5 Parañaque secures the dub against No.4 Zamboanga in an extremely tight matchup, 72-70.
It could have ended in a very different way if only Zamboanga’s Joseph Gabayni made the go-ahead basket to tie the game.
Big Boy Hernandez with his Big Playoff Game
Kristan “Big Boy” Hernandez, the former Bulacan Kuyas forward who was just acquired by the Patriots in the middle of the season, immediately made a huge impact on the team’s playoff aspirations. The 6-foot-6 big man rallied Parañaque past Zamboanga after scoring 17 points while shooting 86% from the field. Although he was a late addition to the roster, he became an integral part of their offense, especially after Paul Sarao and Keith Pido fouled out of the game.
MPBL All-Star Jielo Razon also finished with 15 points, 5 assists, and 7 rebounds, along with 2 steals and a block. Meanwhile, John Uduba posted 15 points, 9 rebounds, and a couple of assists and steals.
The Master Sardines’ were outrebounded by the Patriots, 48-38, which took a toll on the team. Furthermore, MVP candidate Jaycee Marcelino only got 11 points and was having one of his worst shooting nights. The 29-year-old scorer shot 25% from the field, although he made up for it by getting 9 boards, 5 dimes, 3 steals, and 1 block. Bong Galanza (10 points) and Renz Subido (13 points) also chipped in double-digits in scoring.
Parañaque will face the No.1 team in the south division, the Quezon Huskers, in the semifinal round. Schedules will be announced soon.
The Scores:
- Parañaque Patriots vs. Zamboanga Master Sardines (72-70)
