Makati clustered nine points late in the fourth quarter and stunned defending champion Nueva Ecija, 68-61, on Saturday in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the University of Saint La Salle Gym in Bacolod City.
The Makati OKBet Kings surged ahead, 65-55, with 2 minutes and 2 seconds after that spurt and proceeded to post their 15th win against six losses in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
Rob Celiz powered Makati with 12 points and 9 rebounds, followed by JC Cullar, whose triple capped that pivotal salvo, with 11 points plus 4 rebounds; Billy Robles with 10 points plus 13 rebounds and Keith Agovida with 10 points.
Anthony Bringas also delivered for Makati with 8 points plus 11 rebounds that helped the Kings rule the boards, 53-38, and notch 28 points on second chances against only 9 for the Rice Vanguards.
Nueva Ecija, which slid to 18-3, got 13 points from Michael Juico,11 from Will McAloney and 10 from Roi Sumang.
The Kings took a 37-29 halftime lead behind Bringas, who made 7 points, and RJ Ramirez, who added 6.
The MPBL continues its Visayas Invasion in Iloilo on Monday with a doubleheader slated at the City of Passi Arena. GenSan tackles Zamboanga at 6 p.m. and Manila against Iloilo at 8 p.m.