MANILA, Philippines - Mighty Sports bucked the absence of two-time PBA MVP Benjie Paras and Coke assistant coach Bo Perasol as it beat Team Cooking, 103-93, to clinch the Division I crown in the first UP Alumni Basketball League at the Northeast Greenhills Association gym in San Juan City recently.
With the 6-foot-5 Paras and Perasol out, Edrick Ferrer took over and fired 33 points as Mighty Sports recovered from a 38-43 halftime deficit to grab a 73-65 lead going into the final quarter.
Ferrer, the finals Best Player, was backed by PBL veteran Veejay Serios and Mike Arandia, who scored 21 points each while former Alaska forward Poch Juinio, Tata Marata and Arlan Yu combined for 21 points.
Coaches Ryan Gregorio of Purefoods and Pat Aquino of RP Women’s Youth and Jose Rizal University assistant coach Lito Vergara did not see much action but they helped rally Mighty Sports in the third period.
Former UAAP and PBL hotshot Mike Bravo paced Team Cooking with 29 points while Jenkins Mesina added 21 markers.
Mighty Sports, which finished the elims with a 3-1 record, advanced to the finals by beating Team 8 P.M. Despite his absence in the finals, Paras still emerged the top shot blocker with four a game.