BATANGAS ruled the boards and subdued Quezon Province, 75-69, on Saturday in Game One of their South Division Finals in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Lucena City Convention Center.
With CJ Isit scoring and Dawn Ochea and John Ambulodto hustling underneath, the Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters outrebounded the Quezon Huskers, 48-34, and translated it to more second-chance points, 27-18, and more points inside, 28-20, that proved to be the difference in the tight game.
Isit posted 17 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 assists to earn the Daily Fantasy Best Player honors.
Ochea came through with a game-high 11 rebounds plus 7 points, while Ambulodto bunched 6 points in the fourth quarter and snagged 6 rebounds.
Other Rum Masters who delivered for Coach Cholo Villanueva were Juneric Baloria with 13 points, including the insurance drive with 51 seconds left, and Levi Hernandez with 11 points and 3 rebounds.
Quezon got 15 points and 5 rebounds from Mon Abundo, 11 points and 6 rebounds from Ximone Sandagon and 10 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists from LJ Gonzales. Top Gun Judel Fuentes was held to 9 points, including a triple that gave the Huskers some hope, 69-72, with 1 minute and 12 seconds to go.
Isit poured in 11 points in the first half, followed by Cedrick Ablaza and Mark Cruz with 6 each.
Homegrown icon Topeng Lagrama, inserted back into the fray with 17 seconds left, drove in, got fouled, and canned both charities to knot the count at 36 at halftime.
Abundo contributed 10 points, including two triples, while Lagrama chipped in 8, including two triples, for Quezon at halftime.
It was the MPBL's first game at the packed venue with a seating capacity of over 4,000. Hundreds of fans who couldn't be accommodated had to content themselves watching the game at a giant LED screen near the gym.
Game Two of the best-of-three final series will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Hundreds of fans who couldn't be accommodated had to content themselves watching the game at a giant LED screen near the gym.
Quezon Province nipped Batangas, 91-89, in overtime in the elimination round.
The MPBL Playoffs continue at 7 p.m. on Monday with defending champion Pampanga seeking a sweep of 2019 titlist San Juan in their North Division Finals at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
