Valenzuela rode on the heroics John Tayongtong, Dan Natividad and Josiah Esplana to subdue Quezon City, 111-102, and advance to North Division finals in the Metro League Open basketball championship at the San Andres gym in Manila.
Tayongtong played a solid all-around game for Workhorses, finishing with 29 points on 12-of-18 shooting aside from posting five rebounds and four assists in the tournament organized by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and supported by the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Natividad had 22 points six rebounds and six assists and Esplana had 17 points for Valenzuela, which outscored Quezon City, 32-21, in the third period to turn the game around.
The Gerry Esplana-mentored Workhorses led 84-67 entering the final period and kept the Junior Capitals at bay the rest of the way.
John Carl Melegrito finished with a game-high 33 points and six rebounds while Jefferson Comia had 29 points and eight rebounds for the Junior Capitals.
Valenzuela, however, will have to wait for its North Division championship opponent.
Caloocan surprised top seed Manila, 91-76, behind the combined efforts of McArthur Enriquez, Nico Principe, Aevin Coquia to forge a sudden death match for the finals berth.
