by Jerome Lagunzad
Reigning tournament MVP CJ Perez and Cameroon big man Mike Nzeusseu formed a formidable one-two punch in the second half where the Jawbreakers trailed by as many as 14 points twice before they dominated the Revellers down the stretch to hoist the season-opening conference title in historic fashion.
Not only did it shed the tag as the league’s laughingstock following a one-win showing in its maiden campaign in the Foundation Cup last year, the Bernard Yang-managed Zark’s Burgers also joined the winning circle in the most improbable route by becoming the lowest ranked team – at sixth spot – in history to go all the way.
“There is no secret to our success. It’s just about loving and trusting each other,” said Zark’s Burgers coach Topex Robinson, basking in the glow of their epic title run that somehow soothed pain of their painful loss in the NCAA seniors cage wars last year.
“I just told them ‘You’re inspiring people and you’re not doing it by just giving up. Just keep on playing, keep on believing on yourselves and just love and trust each other.’”
The 6-foot-6 Nzeusseu played like a man possessed inside the shaded lane in the final period, ramming in half of his game-high 28 points, while the 6-foot-2 Perez backed him up with an all-around showing of 26 points, eight steals and six rebounds as the Jawbreakers scored a strong follow-up to a 98-90 victory in Game 2 last Thursday.
ZARK’S BURGER 92 – Nzeusseu 28, Perez 26, Ayaay 14, Jc. Marcelino 7, Jv. Marcelino 6, Caduyac 5, Tansingco 3, Ibañez 2, Serrano 1, Baltazar 0, Pretta 0, Yong 0.
CHE’LU BAR AND GRILL 82 – Calisaan 17, Batino 12, Costelo 12, Ablaza 11, Bulanadi 8, De Leon 8, David 6, Collado 4, Ilagan 2, Taganas 2, Siruma 0.
Quarters: 21-18, 37-42, 64-70, 92-82.
