AICC Manila whipped San Juan, 72-68, to capture the inaugural FilBasket Subic Championship title Monday night at the Subic gym.
The Manila dribblers drew strength from Michael Mabulac, Chris Bitoon and Hesed Gabo to seal the crown in the deciding Game 3 of their best-of-three finals’ affair.
Mabulac fired 18 points, hauled eight rebounds and got three steals, while Bitoon chipped in 13 points and six boards for Manila, who followed up its 74-70 Game 2 victory Sunday after losing Game 1 Saturday, 80-74.
Hesed Gabo also fueled Manila throughout the series by averaging 14.3 points, three rebounds and three assists per game to be hailed as Finals Most Valuable Player. In Game 3, he finished with 10 points, three rebounds and six assists.
Manila pulled away from an early 9-all deadlock and dictated the pace throughout, leading by as many as 13 points, 54-41, off a Ronjay Buenafe triple in the last 52 seconds of the third period.
But the Knights refused to give up without a fight and threatened in the last four seconds of the game after Jhonard Clarito drained a triple to cut their deficit to only two, 70-68.
San Juan attempted to stop the clock and gain ball possession, but two free throws from Buenafe off Paolo Hernandez’s foul sealed the win for Manila.
Abando finished with 17 points for San Juan, while Clarito scored 11 points. Orlan Wamar and Renato Ular added 10 points in a losing effort.
Meanwhile, Medical Depot’s Simon David Camacho earned the Conference MVP plum.
Also part of the Mythical team were Muntinlupa Defenders’ Thomas Torres, Nueva Ecija Bespren’s Renz Palma, Wamar and Mabulac.
