MANILA – Pampanga Delta bagged the National Basketball League – Pilipinas Chairman’s Cup 2021 crown via a 111-98 domination of La Union PAOwer in Game 2 of the finals on Sunday at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Encho Serrano spearheaded the offense with 26 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals as the Delta swept the best-of-three series. This is their second straight Chooks-To-Go NBL title.
Serrano, a former De La Salle University Green Archers standout, was later named Finals Most Valuable Player. He averaged 21.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and 1.5 steals during the two games against the PAOwer.
Rhanzelle Yong chipped in 20 points and nine rebounds. CJ Gania produced double-double 16 points and 11 rebounds, while MJ Garcia registered 12 points and 11 assists for the Delta.
Jayson David, who is set to play for the Iloilo United Royals in the upcoming MPBL Invitationals, contributed 12 points, six rebounds, two assists and three steals. Mark Dyke hauled 14 rebounds on top of seven points for Pampanga.
Serrano was at the forefront of offense for Pampanga. He led a 19-4 start to force La Union to play catch up the rest of the way. The PAOwer narrowed the gap to 53-47 at the half, but the Delta pulled away in the third with Serrano leading the charge.
The Delta topped the eliminations by winning nine of 10 games to gain an outright semifinals berth before advancing to the title series after sweeping the Taguig Generals in the semis.
Kirk Agulan scored 23 points while Erven Silverie made 22 markers for La Union, which finished runner up in the tournament for the second straight time after also losing to Pampanga last year.
Meanwhile, Filipino-Indonesian forward Biboy Enguio of Muntinlupa Water Warriors was hailed as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player for leading his team to a semifinals finish.
The 33-year-old Enguio was solid all throughout for Muntinlupa averaging 19.9 points (second in the league), 12.2 rebounds (second), 1.8 blocks (fifth), and 1.3 steals per game.
BOX SCORE:
PAMPANGA 111 — Serrano 26, Yong 20, Gania 16, Garcia 12, David 12, Hernandez 9, Dyke 7, Pascual 4, Santos 3, Liangco 2.
LA UNION 98 — Agulan 23, Silverie 22, Pambid 14, Ablao 11, Apolonio 9, Llona 7, Maynes 4, Gurtiza 4, Gatchalian 2, Blaza 2, Doliente 0, Francisco 0, Caasi 0.
Quarterscores: 28-15, 53-47, 84-68, 111-98. /PN
