Bacoor City weathered Batangas City Embassy Chill’s third-quarter surge to prevail, 54-49, on Friday and capture the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) South Division crown at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Clamping down on defense, the Strikers held the Athletics to five points while coming through with 14 to cut short their best-of-three South finals series and barge into the National Finals against the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, the North Division champions.
Bacoor routed Batangas, 89-65, in Game 1 held on Monday at the Strike Gymnasium in Bacoor City.
No Striker was able to score in double figures, but Aaron Jeruta earned best player honors with seven points, six rebounds, and three assists, most of these contributions coming in crucial moments.
Jhaymo Eguilos, a former Batangas starter, posted nine points and seven rebounds, followed by James Kwekuteye with eight points and nine rebounds and Jhan McHale Nermal with eight points plus four rebounds.
Jammer Jamito tallied seven points, while Mark Yee contributed four points plus nine rebounds.
Batangas, which could only make 5 of 40 triple tries, got 11 points and nine rebounds from Jeckster Apinan and nine points from CJ Isit.
Levi Hernandez and Jong Baloria, the Athletics’ top gunners were limited to seven points each, while Cedric Ablaza settled for six points plus 10 rebounds.
“We just stick it out through our defense,” said Bacoor coach Alex Angeles. “Even when we can’t score, we make sure to make stops and execute our plays, especially on defense.”
MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes awarded the championship trophy to Bacoor Strikers team manager Dennis Abella.
The Strikers and the Giant Lanterns will clash in the best-of-five National Finals starting on Nov. 24, Friday, at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
“I’m giving the boys a day or two of rest before we get back to the drawing boards and study Pampanga player by player,” said Angeles.
