ZAMBOANGA — The sardines capital of the Philippines took its turn hosting the MPBL Datu Cup on Saturday and immediately, all roads led to the Mayor Vitaliano Agan Coliseum here.
A record of 12,000 fans packed the coliseum anticipating the Zamboanga Valientes-Family’s Brand Sardines’ first home game. The Valientes did not disappoint the local folks as they rallied from 15 points down, made a game out of it until the final buzzer sounded and couldn’t get it done.
The result was not a reflection of how successful the staging of the first home game and even though the Valientes failed to win in front of their home fans, they were all anticipating when will be the next stop here.
“Hope to see you in February,” Mayor Beng Climaco Salazar said.
The games held in Zamboanga was the sixth stop of the MPBL in the Visayas and Mindanao region and just like the previous staging of the games in Davao, General Santos City and Cebu, the matches were filled with excitement.
In the first game, Cebu and Marikina went at it until the closing seconds of the game as Patrick Cabahug played the hero’s role by scoring the last five points for the Casino Ethyl Alcohol-backed Sharks, who outlasted the Shoemasters, 78-74.
Cabahug finished with 17 points, 15 of them came in the second half.
It was a fitting send-off for the main game between the Valientes and the powerhouse Manila Stars-Robust Energy Capsule. Manila, boasts of its more superior line up, dominated most of the way until Zamboanga caught fire behind old reliables Reed Juntilla and Jonathan Parreno.
The duo carried the fight all the way down to the final play, but just couldn’t come up with the basket needed to complete a come from behind victory.
More than the exciting games brought to the local fans, Zamboanga was gracious enough to host the entire MPBL delegation and received a warm welcome from the airport, to the billeting area where everybody had their lunch all the way to the games.
It was an experience savored by teams that they wanted to go back for more.
So see you again, Zamboanga, and hopefully, your Valientes will be able to get the W next time around.
Rey Joble is a member of the PBA Press Corps and Philippine Sportswriters Association.
reyjoble09@gmail.com
