ZAMBOANGA Family’s Brand Sardines blanked Bacoor in the last two minutes and prevailed, 92-81, on Wednesday in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the Strike Gym in Bacoor.

The Bacoor Strikers threatened at 81-84 following a triple by Jhan McHale Nermal with 2 minutes and 8 seconds to go.

The Strikers couldn’t score the rest of the way, however, and the Zamboanguenos proceeded to notch their 20th win against 8th losses in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 29-team tournament.

Bacoor fell to 22-5 but kept the top spot in the South division.

Zamboanga, on the other hand, countered with a 3-point play by Adi Santos, a triple and a layup by Jayvee Marcelino to prevail and tighten their grip of the fourth slot heading to the playoffs next month.

Judel Fuentes wound up with 18 points and 5 rebounds to earn best player honors for Zamboanga, which drew 13 points and 8 rebounds from Joseph Gabayni, 12 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists from Jaycee Marcelino, and 12 points, 5 rebounds plus 6 assists from Jayvee Marcelino.

Bacoor got 20 points, laced with six triples, from Chito Jaime and 14 points plus 8 rebounds from James Kwekuteye.

The score was tied at 64 after the third quarter, only for Zamboanga to break free, 82-77, following a 12-5 run capped by Jayvee’s triple.

Earlier games between also-rans saw Laguna subdue Bulacan, 114-105, and Rizal trip Manila, 98-84.

Jerome Garcia sparkled in Laguna’s 4th win against 23 losses with 33 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals.

Rizal, leaning on the 19-point, 3-rebound effort of Michael Are, closed out its campaign with a 12-16 record while Manila tumbled to 4-23.

Bulacan fell to 7-21.

The MPBL goes to the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City with Sarangani battling Caloocan at 4 p.m., Batangas tackling GenSan at 6 p.m., and Pasay testing Nueva Ecija at 8 p.m.