Team Marikina ruled the Batang Pilipino Basketball League in style, blasting Batang Cainta, 87-72, in the finals to complete a sweep of the pre-season tournament at the Palaruang Batang Lambak in Sta. Elena, Marikina City over the weekend.
Artison Arboleda fired 13 points and finished with two rebounds, three assists and three steals to power the hosts to the lopsided triumph that came on the heels of the team’s equally imposing 113-62 romp over Makati Pembo Pecas in the semifinals of the inaugural 18-and-under tournament.
Team Marikina also dominated the elims of the eight-team, three-weekend, community-based tournament staged to identify talents, including those in the out-of-school youth sector.
Arboleda ran away with MVP honors with the organizing BPBL naming a separate Mythical 5 made up of Luke Felipe, JL San Juan, Draco Bugarin, Daux Paraiso and Dexter Lugmay. The Core values awardees were Morris Teodoro (character), Sam Reyes (discipline), John Guarino (sportsmanship) and Vic Rosca (brotherhood).
Team Marikina’s Udrih Robosa and John Moldera also topped the two-player two-point shootout to underscore the hosts’ domination of the tournament.
Batang Cainta earlier trounced Mandaluyong Megaworks, 65-55, in their side of the semis of the tournament put up by BPBL, led by league commissioner Ron Camara.
Makati Pembo repulsed Mandaluyong to clinch third place honors.
For details on the next BPBL undertaking, visit the league’s FB page @teamBPBL, IG and website www.batangpilipinobasketball.ph.