The Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters bucked a flat start to subdue the South Cotabato Warriors, 73-63, on Thursday, Nov. 7, and advanced to the South Division Finals against the waiting Quezon Province in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the jampacked Batangas City Coliseum.
Batangas silenced South Cotabato for more than 4 minutes at the start of the fourth quarter to break free, 61-53, and held it till the end to clinch their best-of-three semifinal series, 2-1.
John Ambulodto and Levi Hernandez presided over Batangas’ offense that hit high gear in the second half.
Ambulodto posted 18 points and 7 rebounds to earn the Daily Fantasy best player honors over Hernandez, who tallied 16 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals.
Other Rum Masters who delivered were Cedric Ablaza with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists and Jong Baloria with 9 points and 3 assists.
South Ctabato got 12 points and 11 rebounds from Christian Fajarito, Val Acuna with 10 points and 9 rebounds, Nico Elorde with 9 points, 3 assists and 2 steals, Kyle Tolentino with 9 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists and Mark Cruz with 9 points and 3 assists.
A closing 10-point spurt, triggered by back-to-back triples by Marwin Dionisio and Mark Cruz, pushed the Warriors away, 23-9, after the first quarter.
Batangas Coach Cholo Villanueva praised his wards for being “resilient” and said the victory was a “testament to our consistency and winning culture,” referring to the Rum Masters’ sixth straight MPBL playoffs appearance.
The Warriors led by as far as 30-15 before the Rum Masters trimmed it to 40-30 at the break.
MPBL Founder and CEO Manny Pacquiao watched the game with his wife Jinkee.
Batangas, the MPBL inaugural champion in 2018, tackles Quezon Province at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9, kicking off the South Division Finals at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.
South Cotabato won Game One, 87-76, while Batangas took Game Two, 81-79.
The MPBL North Division Finals begin on Friday with defending champion Pampanga and former titlist San Juan colliding at 7 p.m. at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
