Hobe rips Wang's, bags MBL plum

MANILA, Philippines – Hobe Bihon thumped Wang’s Ballclub, 101-89, in their winner-take-all showdown to rule the MBL Invitational basketball championship at the Lyceum gym in Intramuros Tuesday.

Former PBA players Niño Marquez scored 12 of his team-high 20 points in the fourth quarter, including a pair of triples to power Hobe to victory.

Marquez, who saw action for Air21 in the PBA, hit the last of his four triples in the final two minutes against Jonathan Aldave to give Hobe a five-point cushion, 91-86, after Wang’s threatened at 86-88 on a similar three-pointer by ex-pro Biboy Simon.

Ismael Junio added 14 points, Jeffrey Sanders contributed 13 points, Leimar Navarro had 11 and Braulio Lim had 10 for Hobe, which finished with a 9-1 overall record in the nine-team tournament backed by Smart Communications, Dickies Underwear, WG Diner and PRC Courier Services.

Navarro, a 6-3 recruit from Philipppine Christian University, was later named as Most Valuable Player.