The MLSDF selection completed its fairytale run with a masterful 72-58 whacking of the Pycnogenol/Hoop It Up-backed Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT) Wildkittens in their sudden-death final to seize the championship of the 4th M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Under-21 Developmental Basketball League on Sunday night at the Consolacion Sports Complex.
MLSDF top hitman Phil Mercader scored only eight, but was grinning ear-to-ear as he was named as the regular season MVP owing to his per game average of 18 points, six rebounds, and 4.5 assists.
Mercader automatically made it to the Mythical Five together with John Paul Tampus of the Salazar Colleges of Science and Institute of Technology (SCSIT) Baby Skyblazers, Lemuel Malagar of Consolacion National High School, Brylle Orog of CIT, and Lemar Dahil of Agukoy National High School of Consolacion.
Under the coaching wits of former commercial stars Leodi Garcia and James Laygo, the MLSDF stalwarts threw a porous defensive blanket right from the opening tip-off. Trapped by their foes’ pressure defense, the Wildkittens never knew what to do, allowing MLSDF to race to a flying 15-2 start.
Summoning the big fighting heart that towed them to the final round, the Wildkittens countered with a 13-2 rally in the second period to pull within two points, 15-17, but MLSDF quickly regained its sizzling offensive form to restore an 11-point edge at halftime, 37-26.
From there, MLSDF maintained double-digit leads, leaving the Wildkittens of coach Marvin Felicis groggy and groping for form the rest of the way.
Mikee Cabahug, son of the multi-titled University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers head coach Elmer “Boy” Cabahug topped MLSDF with 11 points followed by Benedicto with 10 markers.
Earlier, Agukoy NHS preyed on the undermanned SCSIT Skyblazers, who showed up with only six players, to carve out an easy 83-69 victory and take home the third place trophy.
The scores
For third
Agukoy NHS (83) - Medida 14, Dahil 13, Ermac 13, Gonzaga 10, Sierra 9, Pilapil 8, Valle 8, Pepito 4, Villamor 4,
SCSIT (69) - Violango 16, Rabaya 15, Balaba 11, Amarado 9, Tampus 4, Ochea 4
Quarterscores:18-12, 39-28, 63-42, 83-59
Championship
MLSDF (72) - M. Cabahug 11, Benedicto 10, EC Cabahug 9, Mercader 8, R. Cabahug 7, Daan 6, Ybañez 4, Quintana 4,J. Cabahug 4, Mosqueda 3, E. Cabahug 2, Cincoflores 2, Bosque 2
CIT (58) - Agusto 18, Ygay 16, Orog 9, Labagala 6, Reyes 5, Caballero 3, Mondragon 1
Quarterscores:17-15, 37-26, 51-40, 72-58 —EBV