Muntinlupa captures Coke-Hoopla diadem

MANILA, Philippines - Kevin Racal sizzled with 41 points as Muntinlupa repeated over Pasig, 82-76, to capture the first Coca-Cola Hoopla championship before a big weekend crowd at the Muntinlupa Sports Center.

Muntinlupa, which beat Pasig twice in the four-team inter-zonal and a third time, 86-76, in Game One of the finals at the Pasig Sports Center last Wednesday, won P250,000. The Pasigueños settled for P125,000.

“We really prepared hard for this,” said Racal, an incoming senior criminology student at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa. “We wanted to win because we don’t want to get embarrassed before our fans.”

Muntinlupa coach Siegfried Levita was all praises for his players.

“They all worked hard and didn’t give up till the end,” said Levita.

Pasig actually battled back from 14-26 down to wrest a 41-38 lead at the turn.

But the Pasigueños came out a bit cold after a 60-minute power interruption although they hung on to a 57-55 lead heading into the last quarter.

Coke executive JB Baylon, Hoopla’s major sponsor, promised bigger things next tournament.

“There’s no way that we cannot continue this next year, no way we cannot go nationwide because we have to be able to reach more talents like the kids you saw today,” said Baylon, the PBA Coca-Cola Tigers governor.

Multi-titled coach Joe Lipa, the tournament organizer, also expressed his elation over the success of the maiden project and was thrilled at the prospect of them going national next year.

“I’m very happy the tournament ended with a big bang,” Lipa said. “I think this will be a very good avenue and showcase for the talent and skills of our athletes and officials, and I hope it goes national because Coca-Cola can contribute a lot to the basketball development in the country.”