Pampanga wins PSL 21-under crown

CEBU CITY: The kings of the north have also ruled the Pilipinas Super League 21U national championship.

The Pampanga Delta claimed the regional league’s 21-and-under division after beating the Consolacion Sarok Weavers, 76-71, in the national final on Monday night at the Cebu City Sports Institute here.

Pampanga, the Luzon Division champion, never wavered despite Consolacion, the Visayas Division champion, having the home court advantage and backed by their cheering fans.

The Delta stole the thunder from the Sarok Weavers in the final 2:02 of the game as Justin Bautista led a gameturning 7-0 run for the visiting team.

Bautista completed a three-point play and also made the dagger layup to give Pampanga a 75-69 lead with 1:06 to play in the game. Joshua Miclat made a layup in between Bautista’s clutch baskets.

Matthew Flores made a jumper in Consolacion’s next play, but it turned out to be the Cebuano squad’s last stand.

The Delta avenged its 57-63 loss to the Sarok Weavers on Saturday night in the round-robin phase of the national finals, coined “Battle of Champions.”

They also earned P200,000 for ruling the mini-tournament.

The Delta took down the Davao Occidental Dreamers, 83-80, on Sunday night to set their rematch with the Sarok Weavers for all the marbles.

Bautista finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals for Pampanga en route to winning the Most Valuable Player award for the “Battle of Champions.”

Miclat and Kevin Santos each added 12 points with Santos also grabbing 13 rebounds for the double-double.

This is the third championship for the Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda-owned squad in a regional league this year as its professional team and 18-andunder team also won titles in another league last June.

Froiland Maglasang tallied 15 points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal, while Rovello Robles added 12 points, 16 rebounds, three assists and two steals for Consolacion, which lost for the first time in four games on Monday.