Number two seed Royal Star Trading pulled away in the 2nd half to defeat top seed University of St. La Salle Bacolod – Fyr Fyter, 87-71, Sunday at the Tay Tung High School Po Hang Gymnasium.
Witnessed by a packed crowd, RST took the first quarter with a 24-23 lead, and then opened the second quarter with a 7-2 run, remaining in front at 33-28, on an Edsel Manday jump shot.
USLS then embarked on a 9-0 run to take the lead, 37-33, as they blanked RST for 3-and-a half minutes, led by Andrie Dubouzet, Keith Rhaileen Ortillano, and Mark June De La Cruz. RST however responded by containing Fyr Fyter to just 5 points in the last 5 minutes of the half as RST retained a 44-42 halftime lead, behind Philip John Majometano and Reymart Carano-o.
It was a different story in the second half, as Justine Jay Ragay scored 7 in a 10-2 RST run during the first 6 minutes in the third canto to extend the lead to 56-44. John Edmund Escultura made back to back baskets to cut the deficit to 8, but RST closed the quarter on an 8-2 run to extend the lead anew to 64-50. RST limited USLS to 8 points while scoring 20 of their own in that quarter.
RST kept a 14-point lead with 6:51 left in the game, as they were content to answer USLS basket for basket, until a decisive and crippling 13-1 run that lasted for 4-and-a-half minutes sealed the title for RST, as USLS was hounded with passing errors and turnovers. Finals MVP Saldy Christopher Macabato started the run with 5 straight points, followed up by triples from Majometano, Ragay and Macabato to erect the biggest lead of the game at 83-57 with 2:27 left in the game.
Macabato spearheaded a balanced RST offense with 14 points, Ragay – 12, Carano-o – 11, Edsel Manday and Joshua Genesis Vincoy – 10 each, Majometano – 8, Jeorem Cabaylo – 6, George Magalso – 5, Jules Garcia – 4, while Esmael Gentilizo, Janelee Torrecampo and Dylan Despi contributed 2 markers each and Mel Brandon Berrueda with one point.
USLS-Fyr Fyter was bannered by diminutive playmaker De La Cruz who sank 14 points, backstopped by Ortillano – 12, Escultura and Ivan Macabani – 10 apiece, Dubouzet – 8, Riggy Alinsoring – 5, Jim Jimiera and Martin Jay Beatingo – 4 apiece, Terence Buenafe – 3, and Josh Luciano – 1 point.
In the battle for third place, number 4 seed Colegio De San Agustin – Bacolod / Strived Sportswear copped second runner up honors, defeating third seed Davies Paints Phils., 98-90, as 5 players scored in double figures, led by Jemar Cepriano with 27 points, Kenneth Malazarte – 18, Rowel Negro – 14, Mycco Deposoy – 13, Jenri Duterte – 10, Carl Estampador – 7, AJ Ondon – 5, and Mico Exaltado – 2.
John Louie Mermida paced Davies with 19 points, backstopped by team mates Ken Jay Sarco – 16, Hurricane Tipon – 12, Mark Ray Dubouzet – 11, Shannon Sealey – 10, James Garrucho – 6, JB Co and Kent Macalalag – 4 apiece, Saul Jimenez and Jerlon Faltiquera – 3 each, and Timothy Villanueva – 2.
The Mythical 5 selection went to Edsel Manday of RST, Andrie Dubouzet of USLS-Fyr Fyter, John Louie Mermida of Davies Paint Phils., and teammates Mycco Deposoy and Kenneth Malazarte of CSA-B/Strived Sportswear.
Aside from trophies, the top 3 teams were awarded cash prizes. RST, USLS-Fyr Fyter, and CSAB/Strived Sportswear took home 20k, 10k, and 5k, respectively.*
