Nueva Ecija grabs 2-0 lead

MANILA, Philippines — Nueva Ecija withstood Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines’ final assault to prevail, 75-74, last Monday and move within a win of clinching the OKbet-MPBL Season 4 crown at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.

Just when the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards were cruising for home, 69-57, with only four minutes to go, the Zamboangueños unloaded an 11-point bomb and then drilled in two triples, courtesy of twins Jayvee and Jaycee Marcelino, to make the game another thriller.

Counting their 81-75 victory in Game 1, the Rice Vanguards took a 2-0 lead and could wrap up the best-of-five National Finals with a win in Game 3 on Dec. 9 in Zamboanga City.