Mandaluyong crowned itself the inaugural Metro Basketball Tournament (MBT) 2017 seniors champion – thanks to Cyrus Tabi and Prince Allan Liquinan.
The dynamic duo scored the game’s last five points as South champion Mandaluyong brought down North titleholder Quezon City, 69-68, to capture the overall title in the 24-year-olds-and-under tournament Wednesday at the JRU gym in Shaw Blvd.in their home city.
Tabi completed a three-point play with 55 seconds left and Liquinan hit a short lay-up with 24 seconds remaining as the Tigers erased a 68-64 deficit to complete a two-game sweep of the Stars in the best-of-three title series of the tournament organized by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) thru the Metro Manila Sportsfest and supported by the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
With the win, the Johnedel Cardel-mentored Tigers also completed a perfect tournament by winning all their 10 games – six in the classification round, one in the division semis against Pateros, one in the division final against MMDA and two in the grand finalsagainst Quezon City – in the two-and-half-month tourney which has Mobile App ng Bayan Barangay 143 as presentor, my|phone “Bida ang Pinoy” as official mobile phone, Spalding as official ball, and Synergy 88, San Miguel Corp., World Balance, Higer Bus and One World Music and Sports Inc. as major sponsors.
MBT commissioner and PBA legend Pido Jarencio, tournament director Bonnie Tan, Synergy 888 managing director Jackielyn Chua, Proline Sports Center (Spalding exclusive distributor) Vice President Joven Babaan and my|phone marketing executive Lanie Montano awarded the championship and runner-up trophies.
Tabi, who finished with a team-high 16 points, won the MVP award of the event also backed by Excellent Noodles, Nature’s Spring Water, 1-Pacman Partylist, Hopewell Sales Corp., Star Bread, Frabelle Foods, Regan Industrial Sales, Inc., Glitter.ph, Alcoplus and Archie’s Bespoke Bar + Grill.
Mandaluyong 69 – Tabi 16, Cenal 12, Boholano 11, Liquinan 10, Senires 10, Manalac 7, Dada 2, Reyes1, Tilos 0.
Quezon City 68 – Estoce 22, Comia 12, Cortez 8, Salazar 7, Udjan 6, Asuncion 4, Mahari 3, Antipuesto 2, Barraquias 2, Padigdig 2, Villacorta 0, Nebre 0.
Quarters: 14-13, 41-41, 56-55, 69-68.