MANILA, Philippines – By defeating Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines in the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City on Monday, 75-74, Nueva Ecija moved closer to winning the OKbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season Presented by Xtreme. 

Due to twins Jayvee and Jaycee Marcelino’s two triples with four minutes left in the game, the Zamboanguenos managed to convert the game into yet another thriller. With a score of 69-57, the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards were easily moving toward the finish line at that point. 

With a win in Game 3 on December 9 at the Vitaliano Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City, the Rice Vanguards, who defeated the Zamboanguenos in Game 1 (81-75), might wrap up the best-of-five National Finals.

Nueva Ecija depended on the third quarter explosion of Jay Collado, the courageous plays of Michael Juico, and the reliable free throw shooting of Chris Bitoon and Hesed Gabo in the fourth quarter to thwart Zamboanga, who had gone out to an early 20-9 lead. 

Juico competed for the best player honor while racking up 12 points, nine rebounds, and three steals. Nueva Ecija overcame a five-point deficit to win 58-50 with the help of Collado’s 13 points and six rebounds and Michael Mabulac’s 10 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals.

After missing his two free throw attempts with 7.7 seconds left in the game, Gabo ended strong with seven points and three assists.

Jaycee Marcelino recorded a final-round stat line for Zamboanga of 26 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Cris Dumapig scored eight points, Jayvee Marcelino scored seven points while dishing out four assists, and Chito Jaime scored twelve. 

When Nueva Ecija went on an 8-point run, with the final seven points coming from Byron Villarias, they overcame Zamboanga’s 34-27 lead to retake the lead. 

Before Pamboy Raymundo of Neva Ecija finished the scoring for the half with two free throws, Chris Dumapig gave Zamboanga the lead once again, 38-35, with a layup and two free throws.

Meanwhile Jaycee Marcelino is named the MPBL Most Valuable Player.

Jaycee Marcelino received MVP honors in the OKbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season Presented by Xtreme for the Brand Sardines of Zamboanga Family on Friday at the Mayor Vitaliano Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City. 

Zamboanga defeated Batangas City Embassy Chill to win the South division championship with an 18-3 record in the elimination phase thanks to the shaky guard from the Lyceum University Pirates. 

The 5-foot-9 Marcelino has so far played 26 minutes per game, averaging 17 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.6 steals.

Before the start of Game 3 of the Nueva Ecija championship series, Suzuki Mindanao Regional Sales Manager Joel Martin gave Marcelino the MVP award and a Suzuki Avenis on behalf of MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes. 

The 27-year-old Marcelino, whose twin brother Jayvee also plays for Zamboanga, expressed his hope that the Zamboanguenos would be able to defeat Nueva Ecija, which had won the first two games by scores of 81-75 and 75-74, respectively, in order to move closer to winning the 2022 MPBL national championship. 

Hesed Gabo, Will McAloney, Juel Fuentes, and Cedric Ablaza from Nueva Ecija, San Juan, and Batangas were all defeated by Marcelino in the race for MVP.

Jayvee Marcelino will eventually emerge from the shadows his twin brother Jaycee Marcelino has cast. 

In Game 3 of the National Finals at the Mayor Vitaliano Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City, Jayvee led Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines to a 75-65 victory over Nueva Ecija. This came just hours after Jaycee was named MVP of the OKbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season Presented by Xtreme on Friday night. 

After Jayvee scored 22 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished out three assists, the best-of-five playoff series is now 2-1. The first two games were victories for Nueva Ecija. 

Jaycee once again demonstrated his value as a complete player despite only contributing nine points, with 10 rebounds, nine assists, and four steals.

For MVP, Marcelino defeated Hesed Gabo and Will McAloney from Nueva Ecija, Juel Fuentes from San Juan, and Cedric Ablaza from Batangas.