Team Fuentes rules inaugural Badbeat Basketball League

CEBU, Philippines —  Team Fuentes emerged as the first ever champions of Badbeat Basketball League (BBL) powered by Dimsum Break.

Behind the leadership of Antonio Mella Jr., Team Fuentes masterfully overhauled a double-digit deficit in the first quarter on the way to fend off Kokolay, 69-59, in their sudden-death final duel to clinch the league’s historic crown recently at the Sacred Heart Sports Center.

Mella scattered 14 points, six rebounds and four assists in an all-around show for Team Fuentes that earned him the Finals MVP award.

Team Fuentes trailed by 12 points after the first 10 minutes of play, 11-23, but chopped the deficit down to only two at halftime, 31-33, before pulling away in the third canto to seize control of the match for good, 52-43.

Team Fuentes kept its composure the rest of the way to seal a resounding 10-point victory.

Jhunwil Tubaon unloaded 21 points, seven rebounds, and five assists but his efforts went down the drain for Kokoklay.

Tubaon still has something to be happy about though as he was honored as the season MVP. He was joined in the Mythical Five by Keith Enriquez of Candy Paint, Chris Sabellano of Go Online Solution, Jerry Singson of Wagas & Estorgio Law Firm, and Jacob Esperanza of Team Fuentes. — EBV