Mandaluyong bags MBT title

Mandaluyong scored five straight points in the final minute to beat Quezon City, 69-68, Wednesday and capture the inaugural Metro Basketball Tournament (MBT) seniors crown at the Jose Rizal University gym.

Cyrus Tabi completed a threepoint play before Prince Allan Liquinan converted a layup with 24 seconds remaining as the host Tigers erased a 68-64 deficit to complete a two-game sweep of the Stars in their best-of-three title series.

Tabi finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals and was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament organized by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) through the Metro Manila Sportsfest and supported by the Philippine Basketball Association.

Coached by Johnedel Cardel, Mandaluyong won all 10 games during the nearly three-month tourney.

Roque Estoce finished with 22 points while Jefferson Comia added 12 points for Quezon City but missed a game-winning basket as time expired.

The tourney is also supported by Excellent Noodles, Nature’s Spring Water, 1-Pacman Partylist, Hopewell Sales Corp., Star Bread, Frabelle Foods, Regan Industrial Sales, Inc., Glitter.ph, Alcoplus and Archie’s Bespoke Bar + Grill.

Also key for the Tigers was AllStar Game MVP Sandy Ceñal who had a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds while Jonathan Boholano did the same with his 11 markers and 14 boards. Liquinan added 10 points, capped by the game-winning layup with 24 seconds left on an assist by Jaime Senires.

Tabi was joined in the Mythical Five by Ceñal and Liquinan, and Quezon City standouts Jefferson Comia and Mikhael Justin Salazar, the All-Star Game Obstacle Challenge champion.