Inaugural staging champion Batangas City and San Juan salvaged similar hard-earned wins late Saturday night to set up a winner-take-all showdown with their respective division finals rivals in the MPBL Datu Cup held at two separate venues.
The Tanduay-backed Athletics had to content themselves playing at their adopted venue at the La Salle Sentrum in Lipa City after their home court in Batangas City wasn’t made available due to an important event.
Batangas City needed an extra period before pulling off a pulsating 76-74 win over the Davao Occidental Tigers-Cocolife, as the series shifted back to Davao City for the third and deciding game of the southern division finals.
Jeff Viernes and Jhaymo Eguilos struggled offensively, but managed to find ways contributing and helping the Athletics from keeping their post season campaign alive.
Viernes struggled offensively, but scored the last five points of the Athletics and lifted the team to victory. He was able to score most of his points from the free throw area where he hit 10-of-11 shooting and ended up with 20 points to lead the way for Batangas City, which is looking to win back-to-back championships in the fastest growing regional amateur basketball league put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and former MVP Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.
His long-time teammate, Eguilos, also struggled from the field, hitting only 2-of-9, but shot a steady 8-of-10 from the free throw line. The 6-foot-5 center, who played a key figure in Batangas City’s championship run last season, also ended up with a double-double of 12 points and 17 rebounds.
Ex-pros Denice Villamor and Val Acuna also stepped up to the challenge and produced 15 points apiece for Batangas City.
Like Batangas City, San Juan also lived for another day as the Knights edged the Manila Stars, 92-90, in the other game.
John Wilson was a steady presence all game long, finishing with 18 points, while Jhonard Clarito stepped up big and played his best game of the tournament, adding 16 markers and seven rebounds, allowing the Big J Sports-backed Knights to set up a deciding rubber match.