Panthers keep Elite Cup crown
THE Panthers successfully defended their crown after squeaking past the Wolves, 67-64, in the finals of the Elite Basketball Club Cebu Season 7 last Sunday night at the Visayan Glass Gym in Guadalupe.
The Panthers controlled the game early on, relying on Neil Buot and Prince Panes on the offensive end as the two combined for 17 points in the first quarter before taking a 30-25 lead at halftime.
The Wolves slowly trimmed down the lead in the second half, and even led near the end of the fourth quarter, 64-63, from a three-pointer by Ivan Espina.
With the Wolves in foul trouble, the Panthers capitalized on the charity stripe with Jundy Dimitiman splitting his free throws and Buot converting three free throws for the final tally.
Buot led the Panthers with 18 points and was named the Finals MVP, while Mark Panerio, the Season MVP, scored 14. Panes and Ian Ocampo also chipped in nine points each.
Espina, who sank four shots from beyond the arc, had 18 points for the Wolves, while Jax Bautista scored 17. Jules Asignar also helped out on offense with nine points.
Panerio, Bautista, Lorenzo Bacaltos, Josephus Rusiana and Armando de Jesus were named into the All Elite First Team or the Mythical Five. Buot, Prince Malana, Niño Belande, James Cabilino and OJ Cimafranca were named in the All Elite Second Team.
De Jesus also took the Scoring Cham- pion Award, Chito Solis was named the Most Defensive Player, Al Ray Ubod bagged the Sportsmanship Award, Cabilino took the Three-point King Award and TG Zarco was named the Most Improved Player.