BATANGAS City Embassy Chill posted a huge lead and proceeded to beat Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines, 80-71, in Game 1 of their OKbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season presented by Xtreme South division crown at the Vitaliano Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City.

The Batangas Athletics surged ahead, 68-46, and used it to cushion the impact of the Zamboanguenos’ final rally which took them to within 68-73.

Jekster Apinan, however, scored inside and Jong Baloria knocked in a dagger triple to take the fight out of the Zamboanguenos.

Baloria wound up with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks to earn best player honors. Cedric Ablaza contributed 17 points and 8 rebounds, while Rudy Lingganay, who hails from Zamboanga City, chipped in 9 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.

Zamboanga got 22 points and 6 rebounds from Jaycee Marcelino, 13 from Jhaps Bautista and 10 points plus 6 rebounds from Jhaymo Eguilos, who was a former key player for Batangas.

With the win, the Athletics need only to repeat over the Zamboanguenos on Tuesday at the Batangas City Coliseum to seal their best-of-three series.

Other contributors for Batangas Coach Cholo Villanueva were Vincent Importante with 8 points and Dawn Ochea and Mark Dela Virgen with 6 points each.

Meanwhile, the San Juan Knights shoot for the North division crown when they tangle with the Nueva Ecija Vanguards at 6:30 p.m. on Monday at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan.

The Knights handed the Rice Vanguards their first loss of the season, 79-72, on Friday in Palayan City and are determined to do a repeat to cut short the best-of-three playoffs.

To do that, the Knights, being coached by Randy Alcantara, will again bank on Judel Fuentes, Michael Calisaan, Dexter Maiquez, Orlan Wamar and Ron Dennison.

Calisaan posted 19 points, 13 rebounds and 2 steals to earn best player honors while Funtes accounted for 17 points and 7 rebounds.

Maiquez contributed 11 points and 7 rebounds and Orlan Wamar 11 points, 9 assists and 2 steals. Though he scored only 3 points, Dennison grabbed 5 rebounds and played tough defense.

Having tasted defeat after winning their first 25 games, the Rice Vanguards are raring to bounce back and force a Game 3 decider that would be held at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum, if ever.

Unlike Alcantara, who has fewer dependable players at his disposal, Nueva Ecija Coach Jerson Cabiltes has a star-laden roster that can deliver when called upon.

Unfortunately, on Friday, some of them were out-of-sync, particularly MPBL All-Star Michael Mabulac, who was held to 4 points and 7 rebounds and fouled out late in the fourth quarter.

Crack point guard Hesed Gabo, on the other hand, could only contribute 6 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds.

Mabulac and Gabo will have to step up and combine with John Bryon Villartias, Michael Juico, Will McAloney, Jay Collado and Pamboy Raymundo for Nueva Ecija, the pre-season favorite, to extend the series.