Champion at last
Escobal’s 32 lifts Reefside past Goldstar
FORMER PBA player Pong Escobal flaunted too much firepower to lift Reefside Surf Co. over Goldstar Hardware, 7963, in the finals to clinch the 81st Araw ng Dabaw Basketball Avenue Champions League title Saturday evening at the Davao City Recreation Center, formerly Almendras Gym.
The prolific forward fired six treys; four of these were unleashed in the final stretch to complete a tremendous 32 points that deserved him the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
But it wasn't a walk in the park for Escobal and the Reefside as he only got six points at the half while the Goldstar was keeping pace all through- out as well.
The momentum completely changed upon the arrival of presidential son Sebastian "Baste" Duterte, owner of team Reefside, as the former Talk N' Text weapon immediately spurted nine points in the third quarter that began Goldstar's torment.
From a close 57-52 lead, the Reefside slowly moved ahead in the fourth quarter with Escobal at the helm.
Escobal fueled the team to a 22-11 run that totally shut the lights out for the Goldstar’s painful concede.
Foul-troubled Chosi Cabigas and Koi Espiritu were Escobal’s accessories for Reefside's first-ever basketball championship title.
Cabigas had nine points while Espiritu chipped in 12 points.
The Reefside received P60,000, a Mikki’s Lechon and a customize trophy courtesy of Tanduay Athletics.
The event was accredited by the Sports Development Division-City Mayor’s Office (SDD-CMO) and supported by The Royal Mandaya Hotel, Bearing Center and Machinery Inc., Davies, CM Farms, Mark Anthony Construction and Supply, Cherrylume, Racks Bar and Grill, Print2Go, Inks2Go, Probiotics, Metro Shuttle, Toyota Davao Group, DMA Farms and Alibaba Shawarma.