Jumbo Plastic makes history, bags PCBL Founders Cup crown

MANILA, Philippines – Jumbo Plastic Linoleum made history on Sunday as it pulled off a come-from-behind 78-73 win over Caida Tiles to claim the PCBL Founders Cup trophy at the Malolos City Sports and Convention Center.

The Linoleum Giants overcame a 17-point deficit and needed the late-game heroics of eventual Finals Most Valuable Player Jeff Viernes to seal the win this event supported by the Accel, Ambucore, Spalding and Aquabest. .

A PBA free agent, Viernes finished the game with 20 points as he scattered seven of his team’s last 10 points, including a long triple that kicked off the Linoleum Giants’ big endgame flurry.   

His triple from 25 feet out put Linoleum Giants back on the driver’s seat, 71-69, entering the final two minutes of the game and he added four more charities down the stretch.

Caida Tiles, the top seeded team in the tournament, had a chance to knot the count with still 38 seconds left, but Joseph Terso lost the ball and he was forced to give up a foul on Jaymo Eguilos.

The Jumbo Plastic center made his first shot from the line and missed the second, but on the loose ball play, he dove for the leather and was fouled before getting injured in the play.

Unable to return, Eguilos was replaced by ex-pro James Martinez who had no problems sinking the charity shots to seal the win for Jumbo Plastic.

For Jumbo Plastic coach Stevenson Tiu, it’s all about character.

“The players really wanted to win. That goes to show their character. They didn’t give up even when we were down by 17,” said Tiu.

The Tile Masters built a 30-13 lead capped by Alex Almario’s split charities with 5:24 left in the second period, but a 12-4 run by the Linoleum Giants in the next five minutes enabled them to close the gap to just nine entering half time.

Earlier, Sta. Lucia Realty outlasted Euro-Med, 73-67, to win third place honors.

The scores:

First game

SANTA LUCIA (73) – Celiz 17, Vidal 15, Gabriel 9, Camasura 8, Ilagan 7, Bautista 6, Onwubere 5, Montilla 4, Escosio 2, Wetherell 0, Sarangay 0.

EURO-MED (67) – Villahermosa 14, Alberto 12, de Leon 9, Cortes 9, Galanza 7, Abundo 5, Llagas 5, Zamar 3, Custodio 2, Santos 1, Cenal 0, Celso 0, Cruz 0.

Quarterscores: 12-15, 30-27, 44-54, 73-67

Second game

JUMBO PLASTIC (78) – Viernes 20, Martinez 16, Eguilos 11, Mandani 7, M. Lopez 7, Taganas 7, J. Lopez 5, Padilla 3, Arellano 2, Acosta 0, Tayongtong 0.

CAIDA TILES (73) – Robles 12, Maiquez 11, Terso 9, Jalalon 9, Corpuz 8, Gabawan 8, Almario 8, Ruaya 4, Hayes 4, Lozada 0, Jamon 0, Leynes 0.

Quarterscores: 10-20, 24-33, 54-57, 78-73.