Quezon banked anew LJ Gonzales to beat Batangas, 65-60, in Game Three on Thursday and clinch the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season South Division championship at the packed Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.
Replicating his Game Two heroics, Gonzales tallied the Huskers’ last 13 points to personally take the fight out the Rhum Masters in their best-of-three title series.
After dropping Game One, 69-75, at the Lucena Convention Center, the Huskers, with Gonzales bunching seven points and Jason Opiso tipping in the ball with 1.9 seconds left, snatched Game Two, 65-64, at the Batangas City Coliseum to force the South title decider.
With the 2-1 victory, Quezon booked a trip to Dubai for the MPBL National Finals against North Division champion and reigning national titlist Pampanga.
Batangas was ahead, 55-52, when Gonzales bunched 10 points, sandwiched by two triples, that pushed Quezon ahead, 62-55, with 1 minute and 33 seconds left.
Jong Baloria, Kris Porter and Cedrick Ablaza countered for Batangas, 60-62, with 30 seconds to go, but Jason Opiso found Gonzales open for the breakaway drive that virtually sealed the outcome.
After sorry misses by Batangas, the 5-foot-11 Gonzales, a former star of the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, then split two charities with 7 ticks left to cap his performance worthy of the Daily Fantasy best player honors.
Inspired by the presence of family members, who traveled from distant San Mateo, Isabela to watch the game, Gonzales posted 22 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals.
Other Huskers who delivered for Coach Eric Gonzales were Judel Fuentes with 14 points plus 5 rebounds, Opiso with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists and , Gab Banal with 11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.
Quezon and reigning national titlist Pampanga will clash in a best-of-five series, kicking off with Game One and Game Two on Dec. 1 and 3 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
