No Place Like Home | Iloilo outlasts powerhouse Zamboanga in MPBL

ILOILO -- There's really no place like home for the Iloilo United Royals.

Denied of a win in the previous two meetings here, the United Royals caught a big fish this time, nipping powerhouse Zamboanga-Family's Brand Sardines, 60-58, to boost their chances for a playoff berth in the MPBL Lakan Season at the University of San Agustin Gym here.

And there's no perfect way to end the match than seeing hometown hero Aaron Jeruta emerging as hero.

Jeruta, who won a championship last season while playing for the San Juan Knights before moving to play for his hometown squad Iloilo prior to the start of the season, knocked in the game-winning lay up that sealed the victory for the United Royals.  Following its latest win, Iloilo improved its win-loss record in the southern division of the fastest growing regional amateur basketball league with a 16-10 mark.

The United Royals dislodged their latest victim, Zamboanga, in the tight race for the playoffs as the Universal Canning Inc.-owned franchise also fell to 16-10, but by virtue of the win-over-the-other rule, Iloilo has now taken over the fifth spot.