Batangas snares first MPBL crown

Tanduay Batangas Athletics. Photo from MPBL Facebook

Tanduay Batangas Athletics showed tremendous poise in the end game and nipped the Muntinlupa Cagers, 68-66, in Game 4 of the 2018 Anta Rajah Cup Finals to become the inaugural Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) champions Thursday at Muntinlupa Sports Complex.

The Athletics won the battle of attrition in the final minute as Jaymo Eguilos drained the go-ahead jumper, 67-65, with 58.9 seconds remaining before making it a three-point game with a split in the last 18.2 seconds.

The Cagers, though, stayed in the game and came within two, 68-66, after a split from the stripe from Dave Moralde in the last 14.9.

Tey Teodoro failed to seal the deal for Batangas as he botched both of his charities in the ensuing play, but Muntinlupa center Pari Llagas also missed a chance to force overtime after misfiring on both of his freethrows with 1.2 seconds left.

Moncrief Rogado topped the all-out attack for the Athletics with 14 points and four rebounds, while Bong Quinto got 12 and three off the bench.

Paul Varilla just missed out on a double-double with his 10-point, 9-rebound performance for the Athletics.

“The intensity, the willingness of players to play was there. They didn’t want to go back to Batangas,” said coach Michael Tan. “If we’ll return, it will be for the motorcade already.”

It was a fitting ending for the Batangueños, who only lost twice this conference and have been on top for the whole conference.

Llagas finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds for Muntinlupa, while Moralde got 14 and seven in the defeat.

The Scores:

BATANGAS 68 — Rogado 14, Quinto 12, Varilla 10, Teodoro 9, Eguilos 7, Santos 6, Acuna 5, Olayon 4, Villamor 1, Grimaldo 0, Alvarez 0, Pasculado 0.
MUNTINLUPA 66 — Llagas 19, Moralde 14, Reverente 12, Mangahas 11, Ylagan 7, Jaime 3, Apreku 0, Vergara 0, Stevens 0.

Quarters: 16-12, 43-28, 54-47, 68-66.