Felix John Villarente led Marikina’s blazing finish as the Shoelanders outlasted the Parañaque cagers, 64-60, and captured the 16-and-under division title in the Metro Basketball Tournament held recently at the San Andres Gym.
Villarente scored five points and dished out a crucial assist in a telling 9-3 wind-up as Marikina erased a 57-55 deficit to prevail.
The cat-quick Villarente finished with 16 points, six rebounds, seven assists and one steal to clinch the Best Player of the Game and the Most Valuable Player honors for the tournament.
Villarente also was named to the Mythical Five along with Zeller, Parañaque’s Kyle Edward Cuevas, Makati’s Johnred Louise Lugo, and San Juan’s Adrian Daniel Rellama.
In other games, MMDA won the Division II title with an 80-73 win over San Juan City while Malabon routed Pasig, 98-82 to win the Division III title of the event also backed by Excellent Noodles, Summit Natural Drinking Water, Synergy 88 Digital, World Balance, Regan Industrial Sales, Gadgets In Style, Gerry’s Grill, Cloudfone, Firefly Lighting, Frabelle Foods, Burlington, Higer, Stonini, Star Bread, Cobra Energy Drink, Grips Hari Wax, Alcoplus Alcohol, and Glitter.ph as sponsors, PLDT as internet provider, and Spalding as official ball, MMDA won the Division II title with an 80-73 victory over San Juan while Malabon routed Pasig 98-82 to win the Division III crown.