Teytey Teodoro found his groove in the homestretch and lifted the Mindoro Tamaraws past the Bicol Oragons, 84-81, on Monday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Kamalig Coliseum in Orion, Bataan.
The former standout of Jose Rizal University scored the Tamaraws’ last eight points, including the clinching two free throws with 7.4 seconds left as Mindoro joined inaugural day winners Zamboanga and Abra at the top of the 30-team field.
Teodoro wound up with a game-high 19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals in 20 minutes and 5 seconds of play to earn best player honors.
Others who delivered for Mindoro Coach JR Cawaling were burly Ken Bono with 15 points and 7 rebounds, Andres Desiderio with 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists, Jordan Rios with 12 points and 8 rebounds, and Ralph Olivares with 9 points and 6 rebounds.
It was a brilliant fightback for the Tamaraws, who trailed by as many as 10 points, 62-72, in the fourth quarter and were still behind, 71-76.
Desiderio, however, knocked in a triple and Marvin Lee, 11 points from John Edcel Reyes, and 10 each from John Gallego and Christopher Javier.
Mindoro surged ahead, 7-0, but Bicol countered to seize a 23-18 lead after the first quarter.
The MPBL heads to Villar Coliseum in Las Pinas on Tuesday, April 9 with another triple-bill featuring Bacolod against Iloilo at 4 p.m., Pampanga against Rizal at 6 p.m., and Manila against Paranaque.
Teytey Teodoro delivers for Mindoro.