Couriers cop MBL cage crown

MANILA, Philippines - PRC Couriers leaned on former University of the Philippines standout Edrick Ferrer to bring down defending champion Aquadys-Royal Tern, 102-101, and clinch the title in the 10th MBL Chairman Alex Wang Cup basketball tournament at the Aquinas gym in San Juan recently.

Ferrer hit one of two pressure-laden free throws in the last 10 seconds as the Couriers escaped with the win in the short, four-team tournament organized by Millennium Basketball League in cooperation with Basic Basketball Concept Inc. and sponsored by Royal Tern Ceramics.

Overall, it was the fourth title in 10 years by the Alex Wang-led team.

Aquadys-Royal Tern appeared headed for its third straight crown by seizing control of the game and taking a 99-93 lead behind back-to-back three-pointers by former FedEx mainstay Biboy Simon.

But Ferrer combined with Allein Maliksi and Erwin Sta. Maria in an 8-2 run to turn the game around and lead Couriers to a come-from-behind victory.

Maliksi, a 6-3 mainstay of the Philippine Patriots in the Asean Basketball League (ABL), topscored for the Couriers with 28 points.

Jerry Orera and Sta. Maria added 17 points apiece, Ferrer contributed 15 points and Mario Reyes and Joshua Manthe had 11 points each.

Aquadys had a chance to steal the game but Simon’s 10-foot jumper missed the mark as time expired.