Munti forces rubber for Hoopla crown

MANILA, Philippines - Muntinlupa stunned Pasig, 86-76, at the latter’s turf at the Pasig Sports Center last Wednesday to force a sudden death for the inaugural Coca-Cola Hoopla crown.

The Muntinlupa cagers shrugged off the hostile crowd and dominated the Pasiguenos from the second quarter, leading by 10 points, 68-58, en route to the victory.

Kevin Buenaflor scored 20 points, Karl Salvador 18, Kevin Racal 13 and Aaron Bernardo 12 as Muntinlupa repeated over Pasig, which it beat, 84-81, in the first round of the inter-zonal stage.

Muntinlupa goes for the clincher tomorrow at the Muntinlupa Sports Center.

The champion will win P250,000 and earn the distinction of being the first team to rule the league organized by Coca-Cola and held to promote community-based basketball in the National Capital Region.

The runner-up gets P125,00, third P75,000 and fourth P50,000 in the competition which featured 17 teams in Metro Manila and supervised by Joe Lipa.

Buenaflor, Salvador and Bernardo took over the scoring chores from Racal, who struggled for 13 points after scoring 30 in their first meeting.

Pasig actually took control in the first quarter but reeled back in the face of Muntinlupa’s torrid second quarter charge.

Elmer Labis scored 14 points for Pasig. Julius Mark Pinili and Ranniel Nudo had 11 points each and Martin Fajardo 10.