After 10 months of Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) competition and an exciting Best-of-Five finals series, the San Juan Knights are officially crowned as the overall champions of the Datu Cup after conquering the Davao Occidental Tigers last Thursday, April 25 at the Almedras Gym in Davao.
The Senator Jinggoy Estrada-owned team was led by Mike Ayonayon at 33 points with a 12-of-18 success shooting from the field. Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) ex-pro Larry Rodriguez had a double-double at 15 points and 13 rebounds, while fellow legend Mac Cardona chipped 12 points and five assists. Former Most Valuable Player (MVP) contender Mark Yee, however, did not want to give up for Team Davao and spearheaded his team at 27 points and seven rebounds. Bonbon Custodio added 19 points, five steals, and four rebounds, while Arnold Adormeo and Eman Calo contributed 12 and 10 points respectively as well. The score ended at 87-86, with Knights’ Jhonard Clarito scoring his 11th point of the game at the last eight seconds of the fourth quarter, causing their one-point advantage over the South Division Finalists and the overall top spot.
Knights’ head coach Randy Alcantara tells Fox Sports Philippines after the game in Filipino, “It felt good. We didn’t get the home court advantage, but still, we were champions,” also sharing on his delight bringing a trophy home to their respective city. The last time the San Juan Knights ruled the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA), which is what the MPBL is modeled after, was more than 20 years ago. Coach Randy also tells Philippine Star, “[My players] played their hearts out. They didn’t give up. I just told them to go on playing as long as the final buzzer has not sounded. We played the right defense and have the proper players at crunch time.”
After the match, MPBL founding owner Senator Manny Pacquiao and Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes awarded the San Juan Knights their P10-million champion trophy and each player their P100,000-worth championship ring.