Nougat retains Superstar title in Liga Manila Nike Forum Open

Nougat, JC Premiere Azucar, and Nordic emerged as the kings in the three divisions of the Liga Manila Nike Forum Open Sunday at Reyes Gym in Mandaluyong.

Displaying its championship pedigree, Nougat successfully defended its Superstar Division title, squeaking past R.L. Foods in a dramatic wire-to-wire 105-99 victory in the night’s main billing.

Buoyed by its run-and-gun attack, Nougat came out off the gates firing and took a 29-12 lead at the end of the first quarter. But Erwin Sta. Maria took R.L. Foods under his wing to close the gap to just four, 48-44, at halftime.

Tempers flared midway in the third quarter when Nougat coach Mike Mancilla and James Mangaran were whistled for technical fouls after the two complained about the officiating. Still, that could not stop distract the reigning champs as James 

Abugan and Alvin Vitug providing the finishing kick in the fourth.

R.L. Foods did not go down without a fight, though, as it turned the tides and Paolo Orbeta bringing his team back within four, 103-99 with 15.3 ticks remaining, but Vitug and Popoy Banzali iced the game for good, giving Nougat the back-to-back titles.

Abugan captained the balanced attack for Nougat with 19 points, nine rebounds, and three steals to be hailed as the Finals MVP.

Vitug ended up with 18 markers, Jan Pineda got 17 points and five boards, Banzali shot 16 points, and Mangaran had 14 markers and seven rebounds in the big win for Nougat.

Sta. Maria poured a game-high 24 points and seven rebounds, while Francis Camacho assisted him with 22 markers and four boards for R.L. Foods.

In the All Star Division Finals, JC Premiere Azucar outlasted Saints, 83-74, to come away with the championship.

Paul Alguno paced his squad with 18 points, nine coming in the fourth where JC Premiere finally established its much needed cushion to take home the W. He also had five rebounds, enough for him to be feted with the Finals MVP.

Arnel Ibarrientos supported his cause with 13 markers and five boards.

JC Premiere went on cruise control late in the third and kept the boat floating up until the payoff period, before Saints’ Justin Sanguyo tried to make one last fightback with seven points in the fourth to close the gap to five, 79-74, with 1:04 remaining.

However, Alguno and Bong Melocoton proved to be steady from the charity stripe in the clutch for JC Premiere.

Mac Sevilla topscored for the Saints with a double-double of 32 points and 13 rebounds, while Lance Sikat got 10 markers in the losing effort.

Meanwhile, Benjie de Vera scored Nordic’s last seven points to tow the Tankers to a come-from-behind 70-64 win against Perfect Pieces to snare the Starter Division crown.

De Vera came alive late, putting the exclamation point on Nordic’s 12-1 charge to finish the game and grab the win.

Finals MVP Bernard Vergara topped Nordic with 19 points, Dennis Limin contributed 17 markers, three assists, and two rebounds, and De Vera wound up with nine for the champs.

Perfect Pieces took advantage of an early third quarter drought for Nordic to erect a 49-32 edge. But Nordic stormed right back in the fourth frame, knotting the score at 63 with 3:26 left in the clock and never looked back.

Mark Ong led Perfect Pieces with 25 points and seven rebounds, while Kristofer Gaba had 17.

Top performers

This season’s Felipe and Sons’ All-Liga Manila First Team in all three divisions were also named.

Philmon Yao was named as the Nike Forum Most Valuable Player for the Starter Division, averaging 23.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game for Chigo.

He was joined by Francis Ronquillo (Team Kuys), Mark Ong (Perfect Pieces), Benedict Ibuyan (House of Pain), and Royce Agustin (i Street) in the Mythical Five.

Marv Santos was hailed as the MVP in the All Star Division after netting 25.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.3 steals for Jeron Travel.

Other Mythical Team members include Vic Quequep (Hook Up), Earl Murphy (Consla Partylist), Norman Barracoso (Team Blue & White), and Froi Saquillo (North Susana).

It was Millan Vargas who reigned as the MVP in the Superstar Division, carrying SBR Import & Export with 21.6 points, 8.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steal averages.

Teammate EJ De Guzman, Raymark Matias (Muggsy’s), Francis Camacho (R.L. Foods), and Raymond Maggay (Lions) rounded out the Mythical selection.

All-Star events

Earlier in the day, Paolo Orbeta and Erwin Sta. Maria joined forces to carry the Reinforced Starters to a pulsating 130-124 overtime win over the Reinforced All Stars in the Liga Manila Nike Forum Open All-Star Game.

Orbeta, the former St. Benilde stalwart, orchestrated the victory with 36 points, 11 of which coming in the overtime period, alongside 12 rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

Ex-Mapua Cardinal Sta. Maria, meanwhile, filled the stat sheets with a game-high 37 markers, 11 boards, three steals, two dimes, and a rejection.

Reinforced Starters almost pulled away and took a 15-point lead early in the fourth, before Marv Santos poured 15 of his 25 points to help the All Stars climb back and force overtime at 113-all.

But Orbeta, who later was adjudged as the All-Star Game MVP, would deny any comeback try, taking over in the game’s last five minutes and securing a crucial steal which led to an easy Sta. Maria bucket to put the Starters up, 127-120 with 38.2 seconds left to play.

EJ De Guzman anchored the Reinforced All Stars with 33 points, 18 rebounds, and three assists, and Millan Vargas added 25 markers, nine dimes, and seven boards.

JG Gonzales of Team Kuys opened the festivities as he went hot early in the final round to win the Nike Forum Three-Point Shootout.

Gonzales drained his first six shots in the championship duel en route to 11 points, enough to outlast contender Jan Pineda’s eight baskets. Both Gonzales and Pineda advanced to the finals with 10 points each, besting four other participants in the contest.

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TAGS: Basketball