BATANGAS City - Tanduay ruled the boards and subdued Quezon Province, 75-69, on Saturday in Game One of their South Division Finals in the MPBL playoffs at the Lucena City Convention Center.
With CJ Isit providing the offense, and Dawn Ochea and John Ambulodto hustling underneath, the Rum Masters outrebounded the Huskers, 48-34, and translated it to more second-chance points, 27-18, and more points in the paint, 28-20, that proved to be the difference in a tight game.
Isit posted 17 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists to earn best player honors.
Ochea came through with a game-high 11 rebounds to go along with his seven points, while Ambulodto added six points in the fourth quarter and snagged six rebounds.
Other Rum Masters who delivered for Coach Cholo Villanueva were Juneric Baloria with 13 points, including the insurance drive with 51 seconds left, and Levi Hernandez with 11 points and three rebounds.
Quezon got 15 points and five rebounds from Mon Abundo, 11 points and six rebounds from Ximone Sandagon and 10 points, five rebounds and three assists from LJ Gonzales.
Top Gun Judel Fuentes was held to nine points, but nailed a triple that gave the Huskers some hope, 69-72, with 1 minute and 12 seconds to go.
It was the MPBL's first game at the packed venue with a seating capacity of over 4,000.
Hundreds of fans who couldn't be accommodated had to content themselves watching the game at a giant LED screen near the gym.
Game Two of the best-of-three final series will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at the Batangas City Coliseum.
The MPBL Playoffs continue at 7 p.m. on Monday with defending champion Pampanga seeking a sweep of 2019 titlist San Juan in their North Division Finals at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
