MANILA, Philippines – The GlobalPort Spurs hooked erstwhile titlists Rain or Shine Tiger Scribes in the winner-take-all championship, 80-62, to cap an epic sweep of the 4th Pakitang Gilas Basketball League Willie Cabales Cup at the historic Rizal Memorial Sports Complex on Monday night.
Winners of the inaugural season, the Spurs (7-0) reclaimed the throne in a dominating fashion to become the first undefeated titlist and two-time champion of the league among sports scribes backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Basketball Association and the Philippine Sportswriters Association.
Anchored by Aldo Aviñante, Paolo Poblador and Jerome Lagunzad, Globalport drowned Rain or Shine with a flurry of transition baskets right from the get go to pull away with an early 17-7 lead.
Since then, GlobalPort didn't let go of the driver's seat the rest of the way, even coasting to as many as 24 points, spread early in the final canto en route to a clean voyage to the “promised land.”
Like a man on a mission, Aviñante poured 17 of his 29 points in the opening quarter alone to go along with four rebounds which earned him this year's Finals Most Valuable Player plum.
In sickbay for most of the tournament, Philstar.com's AJ Bolando secures a rebound for GlobalPort in the finals last Monday.
Rookie Poblador chipped in 21 points and six assists while the seasoned Lagunzad racked up six markers, eight boards, two steals and three blocks.
On the other hand, scoring champion Cedelf Tupas tallied 16 points while rebounding leader Diego Dela Paz was limited to nine points and nine rebounds as Rain or Shine failed to capture a back-to-back title.
Meanwhile, Christian Jacinto stuffed the stat sheet anew with 10 points, 13 rebounds and seven dimes as the Best Center Pioneers clipped Dymons, 51-47 to salvage a third-place finish.
Steals leader Arnold Cagang was also instrumental for the Pioneers with 23 points, four assist and three steals.
For his impressive all-around showing the whole season, league's top shot blocker Jacinto was also named the Season MVP after averaging 19.3 points, 15.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.8 blocks.
Best Center's Jacinto was joined by his teammate Cagang, Tupas and Dela Paz alongside Lagunzad in the Mythical First Team.
PGBL also feted Poblador, Aviñante and Bryan Ulanday of Spurs, Reuben Terrado of Best Center and Karlo Sacamos of TigerScribes as the Season 4's Mythical Second Team.
Cagang was hailed as the Rookie of the Year while the Spurs' Air Urquiola, Best Center's Terrado, the TigerScribes' Alder Almo and Randolph Leongson of the Dymons received Sportsmanship Awards.