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MANILA, Philippines – Hesed Gabo struck when needed most as the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards subdued Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines, 81-75, on Friday night, December 2, in the opener of their OKbet-MPBL (Maharika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season Presented by Xtreme at the jampacked Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.
The crack point guard poured in the points, including a banking dagger triple, that sealed the outcome, 76-67, with only 47 seconds left.
Gabo, a former Mapua Cardinal, wound up with 22 points, 18 in the last 10 minutes, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists to earn Best Player honors and frustrate the Zamboanguenos, who gamely battled the favored Rice Vanguards from the get-go.
Nueva Ecija unleashed a 9-1 run closing the third quarter for a 56-48 lead.
Zamboanga, however, retaliated with a 7-point bomb, through Jaycee Marcelino and Jhapz Bautista, to tighten the game once again, 55-56.
Zambanga forged the last deadlock at 60, only to be met by a John Bryo Villarias triple and 2 charities by Gabo that set the tone of the finish.
Villarias also shone with 19 points while Michael Mabulac contributed 14 points and 5 rebounds before fouling out with 1:25 to go. Will McAloney also did his part with 11 points and 5 rebounds.
Mabulac became the 13th member of the MPBL 1,000-point club and was given the ball he used to score the vital points by commissioner Kenneth Duremdes.
Zamboanga got 15 points and 6 rebounds from Chris Dumapig and 12 points each from Marcelino and Jhapz Bautista, while Jayvee Marcelino chipped in 11 points.
Zamboanga barely took the half, 30-29, but Nueva Ecija dropped a 9-1 run to take the third quarter 56-48.
Nueva Ecija will try to make it back-to-back against Zamboanga in Game 2 of the best-of-five series on Monday at the same venue. – Rappler.com
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