PAMPANGA defeated La Union, 76-68, in Game 4 on Wednesday to capture the National Basketball League (NBL) Season 3 President’s Cup at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
The Delta of head coach and Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda claimed their first NBL championship, beating the PAOwer, 3-1, in the best-of-five series.
Levi Hernandez scored 24 points and was named finals Most Valuable Player. He sparked a second quarter blitz that saw the Delta outscore the PAOwer, 18-9, for a 35-27 halftime lead.
Mark Tamayo and Michael Juico each had 11 points and made key shots that contained La Union in the second half.
Jayson Apolonio 21 points to topscore for the PAOwer, who showed a gallant effort in the entire series by winning Game 2, 84-80.
The finals was played in a bubble upon orders of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and was supervised by the Games and Amusements Board.
The bubble was situated at the Bren Z. Guiao Sports Complex where all teams, staff and production crew underwent three tests, all yielding a negative result. Strict health protocols were also implemented during the series.
Scores:
Pampanga 76 – Hernandez 24, Tamayo 11, Juico 11, Gania 7, Maiquez 6, Pascual 6, Binuya 5, Santos 2, Manaloto 2, Llangco 2, Antiza 0.
La Union 68 – Apolonio 21, Maynes 15, Silverie 8, Ablao 8, Gatchallan 7, Caasi 5, Fontanilla 4, Doliente 0, Francisco 0, Camaya 0.
Quarters: 17-18, 35-27, 58-51, 76-68.