HONG KONG – Team Cebu pulled off a 61-52 stunner of favored Team Macau and emerged as inaugural winner of the Hustle 5: EASL Future Champions Saturday at the Kai Tak Sports Park here.
The selection from the Queen City of the South leaned on the 1-2 punch of Kent Luther Labitad and bulky Venz Luiz Nadela in steering the Philippine representative in the winner-take-all game.
Labitad shot 50-percent from the field for a game-high 22 points and was named MVP of the tournament featuring players 16 years old and below.
Nadela on the other hand, came through with a double-double of 16 rebounds and 15 points, as he joined Nadela on the Mythical Team.
Joel Co, the former PBA player and team manager and players’ development coach of Blackwater, lauded Team Cebu for playing as one and pulling the rug from under Team Macau, who’s being handled by former Macau Black Knights coach Garrett Kelly.
“Favorite yung Macau dito. Puro malalaki yung players tsaka matagal na rin silang magkakasama,” he said.
“Itong team namin, kelan lang talaga nabuo. Kaya dun sa Viber chat (ng EASL), sinasabi talaga Macau ang malakas na team.”
Philippines reigns supreme
Aside from Labitad and Nadela, also comprising Team Cebu were Brix Tristan Hernando, Ian Carl Inocencio, Dereck Wenceslao, Mcdome De Asis, Duke Kenzo Tadlas, Kiefer Villarin, and James Rojo,
Wong Ming Cheng led Macau with 12 points, while Lam Hoi Chun added 11.
In the battle of home teams, Hong Kong B upended Hong Kong A, to clinch third place.
EASL CEO Henry Kerins graced the awarding ceremony and was joined by Hong Kong national team long-time team captain Duncan Reid, and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Erika Dy.
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