Ex-pros power Athletics to inaugural MPBL crown

MANILA, Philippines — Former PBA cagers Val Acuña, Lester Alvarez and Jhaymo Eguilos took charge in the stretch as Batangas City survived Muntinlupa, 68-66, to become the first Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League-Anta Rajah Cup champion at the jampacked Muntinlupa Sports Complex late Thursday.

The troika delivered the baskets that mattered the most in Game Four with the 6-5 Eguilos hitting a jumper to steer the Tanduay-backed Athletics back to the lead, 68-66.

That proved to be the final count as the Cagers fumbled their offensive thrust and after Batangas’ Teytey Teodoro flubbed two charities, the hosts went to swingman Dave Moralde, who missed from the long range. Pari Llagas grabbed the offensive rebound, drew a foul with 1.2 seconds left in the contest but also missed both free throws, enabling the Athletics to escape with the win.

Batangas, which swept the first two games but dropped the third, thus closed out the best-of-five series at 3-1.