THE STAGE is set for the finals of the NCR and Luzon legs of the 2023 Manila Bankers Life-Pilipinas Super League 18-Under Tournament.
On Sunday, at San Andres Gym, top seed Farm Fresh-Letran will take on EZ Jersey-Doc Boleros in the best-of-three Luzon finals, while undefeated Pampanga-Pradera Theme Park squares off against Quezon in their side of the tournament.
The winners will join Mindanao champions Cagayan de Oro Higalas B and Max Ballers Davao, as well as Visayas champion Sherilin Khalifa City of Naga, in the national finals of this tournament co-presented by SCD and Dumper party-list and supported by J Project Clothings, MDC, Bluesky Advertising, NET 25, Wcube Solutions Inc., Hotel SOGO, and Converge.
The nationals will begin on July 15 in Pampanga.
Farm Fresh-Letran and Pampanga-Pradera Theme Park took care of business last Wednesday at San Andres, not wasting their playoff incentives. The former eliminated Taytay, 88-78, while the latter romped LDG San Pedro, 100-77.
The Milkers, who did not have Andy Gemao (Serbia) and Kieffer Alas (Gilas Boys U16), were led by Daniel Padilla and Jovel Baliling, who had 14 points apiece. George Diamante also produced a stellar line of 13 points, 17 rebounds, and three steals.
On the other hand, Justine Garcia led the way for Pampanga with 18 points and six assists. Supporting him were Andrei Dungo (15 points), Joseph Pangilinan (12 points), and Christian Vergara (12 points and seven rebounds).
Meanwhile, third seed Doc Boleros stunned second seed Fin & Claw to seal their spot in the NCR finale. The same goes for Luzon third seed Quezon, who also needed to disarm twice-to-beat armed Datzlav Sta. Cruz.
Doc Boleros outlasted Fin & Claw in two overtimes to take a 114-111 victory on Wednesday before finishing the job with a 79-75 escape the next day at La Consolacion College Gymnasium.
On the other hand, Quezon took a 64-60 victory over Datzluv to set up a decider, which they also took, 68-54.
Carlo Bonzalida of Adamson High School took the cudgels for Doc Boleros in the clincher, dropping 26 points and 19 rebounds.
Bienne Marasigan (13 points), Mowell Morales (12 points, 9 rebounds), and Simplicio Adame (12 points, 7 rebounds) joined hands in leading Quezon to the finals.
The efforts of Fin & Claw’s Peter Rosillo (32 points, six rebounds) and Datzluv’s Jasper Matienzo (23 points, 6 rebounds) in their respective Game Two defeats were wasted.
