KFC/Taco Bell players sweep MVP plums

  The two coveted individual awards in the 2012 DLX/DL JOS Inter-Color Basketball League all went to KFC/Taco Bell players.

KFC/Taco Bell feisty guard Ralph Francisco took the regular season Most Valuable Player honors, while the team’s hardworking big man, Jeff Durant, notched the Finals MVP plum.

Francisco and Durant, who received trophies for their feat from Joe Digno, manager of league sponsor JOS Corporation, played key roles in KFC/Taco Bell’s successful title run in the DLX/DL JOS caging.

The fleet-footed Francisco helped KFC top Pool B in the regular season, as the team held an impressive 6-1 record. KFC absorbed its lone loss in the tournament at the hands of Mawati, 59-62, with Francisco missing the game due to a minor injury. He returned for active duty in the last three games in the regular season and led KFC to a sweep, including an impressive 78-53 victory over its Pool B rival the Fastbreakers. Francisco tallied 13 points in the rout over the Fastbreakers and was the second-leading scorer of KFC behind Durant, who logged 20 points.

KFC went on to get the top seeding in the playoffs and battled and whipped Marianas Water in the quarterfinals, 88-70, with Durant and Francisco making 15 points apiece.

Next up for KFC was Mawati and Francisco exploded for 21 big points to power his team to a 68-62 win. Durant had only 6 markers, but he controlled the boards, preventing Mawati from getting second chance points.

After a so-so offensive performance in the semis, Durant redeemed himself in the winner-take-all finals. He top-scored for KFC with his huge 25 points, drilling back-to-back baskets in the paint to stop Team Pogi’s rally. Team Pogi moved within four points in the fourth period with Durant seating on the bench due to four fouls, but when the KFC big man reported back to the game, he joined forces with Francisco and Joon Lee in ensuing the win for their team.

Durant played an outstanding game in the finals on both ends of the court, as his presence in the paint forced Team Pogi cutters to change their shots to avoid being blocked. The KFC center also dominated the rebounds, giving up only one shot per customer and foiling Team Pogi’s fastbreak game with his offensive boards and putbacks.

Also playing a good game in the finals for KFC was Herbert Maranan, who canned a couple of triples in the third quarter to give his team the momentum. Maranan went on to join Francisco, Team Pogi’s Jeff and Jason Bahillo, and Mawati’s Jerome Reyes.

By Roselyn Monroyo
Reporter