Pampanga greeted the fourth quarter with an 11-point cluster and proceeded to beat Zamboanga's Family's Brand Sardines, 77-71, on Thursday, Aug. 24, tightening its grip on the top spot in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
That spurt, capped by Archie Concepcion's four-point play, pushed the Giant Lanterns ahead, 67-61, en route to their 22nd win in 25 starts in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 29-team tournament.
Reigning MVP Jaycee Marcelino posted 16 points, five assists and four rebounds for Zamboanga, which also got 15 points on a perfect 5-of-5 triple shooting from homegrown John Mahari, and 10 points plus 10 rebounds from King Caralipio, the NCAA Season 98 Finals MVP from Letran.