Solid San Juan stuns favored Octagon for Metro League 13U diadem

MANILA, Philippines — Solid San Juan completed an epic come-from-behind win from 11 points down to stun heavy favorite Octagon, 77-71, and claim the Metro League 13-and-under boys basketball tournament championship yesterday at the San Juan Gym.

Staring at a 49-60 deficit early in the payoff period, the determined La Salle Greenhills-backed squad launched a blistering 22-9 attack capped by a Zio Hizon transition layup to grab the driver seat at 71-69 with 2:01 to go.

Boosted by a wild crowd, San Juan would not be denied from thereon, coming through with a 6-2 closeout highlighted by a monster triple by Janeil Peralta and Hizon’s freebie to seal the win in the tourney backed by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) with Barangay 143 as league presentor.

Hizon finished with 10 points, six rebounds and two assists while Michael Zion Cortez, son of PBA player Mike, and Peralta added 11 and 10 markers, respectively.

Bryan Andrei Hachuela was also instrumental with 14 points, seven boards and four blocks in San Juan’s breakthrough championship.

Hachuela, Best Player of the Game winner in seven games this season, including the finale, logged in averages of 12.0 points and 9.8 rebounds and easily emerged the tournament MVP.

The MVP winner was joined by Kyn Meneses Vicente (Octagon), Manuel Dabao (Muntinlupa), Vince Richard Hagos (Caloocan) and Neil Joaquin Abequibal (Makati) in the Mythical Five.

The scores:

Solid San Juan 77 – Hachuela 14, Cortez 11, Z. Hizon 10, Peralta 10, Gomez 8, Muyuela 7, Jugo 6, Romero 4, Atienza 4, Villavicencio 3, Maravilla 0, Natividad 0, J. Hizon 0, Alian 0, Torres 0.

Octagon 71 – Lopez 15, Ebdane 15, Arejola 9, Valdeavilla 8, Prado 4, Galindez 3, Manalad 3, Kua 3, Maneja 2, Sison 2, Herrera 2, Padolina 2, Tan 2, Vicente 1, Timbol 0.

Quarterscores: 25-18, 38-34, 58-49, 77-71