Urbiztondo relishes second wind

Photo by Glenn Michael Tan/ABL

BALIUAG, Bulacan—Veteran guard Josh Urbiztondo finally achieved what he has not done in the Philippine Basketball Association the past four years.

Urbiztondo is playing for a title for the first time since he played in a championship series for Ginebra in 2013, after keying the Singapore Slingers’ 82-64 drubbing of Alab Pilipinas that completed a two-game sweep of their Asean Basketball League semifinal series on Friday at Star Arena here.

Released by GlobalPort early this year, Urbiztondo is making the most out of his chance with the Slingers as their heritage import.

“It’s truly a humbling experience and a blessing that I’m able to go back to the Finals, and I’m just gonna fight out there,” Urbiztondo, a one-time PBA champion with the B-Meg Llamados in 2012, said after the match where he finished with 20 points.

The Slingers will clash with the Hong Kong Eastern Lions, who swept the Saigon Heat, in the Finals starting Friday.