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Quitugua takes regular season MVP honors
TBK Mechanics’ Jake Quitugua attempts a jumper against the outstretched arm of Island Manpower’s Cecilio Bisana during the fourth quarter of their title game in the DL Corp. caging last Sunday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
Quitugua was named the regular season MVP of the DL Corp. caging and also made it to the Mythical Team. The two plums from the recently concluded contest brought Quitugua’s total individual trophies to three after he got his first (Mythical Team member) just a few weeks ago when he debuted in the DLX/IT&E league at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.
The high-leaping forward teamed up with Ivan Devero in bringing TBK Mechanics to the playoffs of the nine-team DL Corp caging. TBK finished the regular season with an even 4-4 record to tie Docomo and the Pelicans for fourth to sixth place.
In the playoffs, Quitugua fired 24 points to power TBK to a 102-88 win over the Pelicans. He then nearly scored in twin digits in their 79-78 upset of the then unbeaten and outright semifinalist San Antonio. In the finals against Island Manpower, the lanky forward also joined forces with the Devero siblings (Ivan and Christian) in bringing TBK back into the game after trailing by as much as 17 points in the third period, before the eventual champion eked out an 81-78 win.
Joining Quitugua in the Mythical Team are San Antonio’s Prince Factor, Island Manpower’s Cecilio Bisana and Jerome Norita, and Ivan Devero.
Meanwhile, Jun Tabora was named Finals MVP for hitting clutch baskets in their exciting victory against TBK Mechanics. Tabora canned a banked jumper under the two-minute mark to snap TBK’s short 6-0 blast and later redeemed himself from a 0-for-2 performance at the foul line with a split free throw that gave Island Manpower a two-point lead, 80-78, going into the dying seconds of the finale. Tabora went on to finish with 15 points, 8 of them came in the third period where Island Manpower broke away, leading by much as 17 points, 60-43.
Tabora and other awardees received wooden trophies presented by league officials led by commissioner Sonny Ebuen and DL Corp. owner Joe Digno. Digno also handed out certificate of participation to the nine squads that joined the league and the Sportsmanship Award to Team Olivos.
