MANILA, Philippines -- The Bacoor Strikers held the Batangas City Embassy Chill Athletics to five points in the fourth quarter and prevailed, 54-49, in Game 2 on Friday to capture the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) South Division crown at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Apart from their choking defense, the Strikers also sneaked in 14 points through James Kwekuteye and Aaron Jeruta to complete their climb from a 10-point hole and forge a National Finals collision with the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, the North Division champions.
Coupled with their 89-65 rout of Batangas in Game 1, the Strikers cut short the best-of-three South series en route to their first title in the 29-team regional league.
Trailing, 28-38, the Strikers moved to within 40-44 after three quarters through the efforts of Yvan Ludovice, Jammer Jamito and Jhan Mchale Nermal.
Kwekuteye, Jeruta and Jhaymo Eguilos then joined forces for 13 points against a triple by MJ Dela Virgen to push the Strikers ahead, 53-47, time down to 19 seconds.
No Striker was able to score in double figures, with Aaron Jeruta earning best player honors with seven points, six rebounds and three assists, most of these contributions coming in crucial moments.
Eguilos, a former Batangas starter, posted nine points and seven rebounds, followed by Kwekuteye with eight points and nine rebounds, and Nermal with eight points plus four rebounds. Jamito tallied seven points, while Mark Yee contributed four points plus nine rebounds for the Filbet.com-backed Strikers.
Batangas, which could only make 5-of-40 triple tries, got 11 points and nine rebounds from Jeckster Apinan and nine points from CJ Isit. Levi Hernandez and Jong Baloria, the Athletics' top gunners were limited to seven points each, while Cedric Ablaza settled for six points plus 10 rebounds.
"We just stick it out through our defense," said Bacoor Coach Alex Angeles. "Even when we can't score, we make sure to make stops and execute our plays, especially on defense."
MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes awarded the championship trophy to Bacoor Strikers team manager Dennis Abella.
The Strikers and the Giant Lanterns will clash in the best-of-five National Finals starting on Nov. 24, Friday, at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
"I'm giving the boys a day or two of rest before we get back to the drawing boards and study Pampanga player by player," said Angeles.