SKY Cable-Iloilo retained the Iloilo Governor’s Cup National Invitational Basketball Championships title after a 92-83 win over Letran Knights in the finals Sunday night at the Pototan Astrodome.
Cameroonian center Rodrigue Ebondo led with 19 points Willie Miller contributed 14, and Negrense Mark Yee and Chito Jaime added 13 and 10, respectively, for Sky Cable.
Meanwhile Centro Escolar University Scorpions banked on the exploits of Kobe Caballero, Rich Guinitaran and Tyron Chan to notch the third place with a 99-84 win over Mapua University Cardinals.
Sky Cable took home the P100,000 top prize while Knights received P75,000. Scorpions and Cardinals got P50,000 and P25,000, respectively.
Sky Cable waxed hot early for a 19-10 lead on inside conversions by Ebondo. The lead grew 43-32 at the half with Rudy Lingganay firing back-to-back triples and Yee converting from the inside.
In the third quarter it was the turn of Miller to dominate on offense as he unloaded jumpers to maintain Sky Cable’s double-digit edge before Allan Mangahas and Chito Jaime took over in the final canto to keep Knights at bay.
After the match, Miller was hailed the tournament Most Valuable Player and joined teammates Yee and Ebondo in the mythical selection along with Knights’ Larry Muyang and John Paul Calvo.
Ilonggo Calvo finished with 19 points, Muyang contributed 15, while Kier Quinto and Gilas Pilipinas member Jeo Ambohot had 14 and 13, respectively, for Knights./PN
