DAVAO City-based commercial team Tin24 captured the Araw ng Sta. Maria Open basketball title by beating AC Almario, 97-84, in last weekend's championship match at the Sta. Maria Municipal Gym, Davao Occidental.
Team Tin24's rigid training paid off after escaping past Montaña Pawnshop, 102-101, in the semifinals.
Former Davao Eagles player Christopher Jatico, who is also the team owner, led the power house cast by drilling in 36 points.
Team Tin24 also leaned on seven-foot center Jabbar Mpouma and Nerner Lazarte's high-percentage perimeter shooting that totally shut the lights out for the Alex Almario-managed AC Almario team.
“Although two-day event lang siya pero dako gihapon ni na achievement para sa team (It was just a two-day tournament but this is still a great achievement for the team),” Jatico, who made most out of his plays in the fourth quarter, said.
After AC Almario's bigman Ivan San Diego was ejected in the third quarter with two technical fouls, Team Tin24 then dictated the game and never looked back.
With the win, Team Tin24 added another feather to its cap and went home with P50,000 and a trophy courtesy of the local government unit of Sta. Maria.
Town mayor Rudy Mariscal witnessed the championship game. (With reports from Alex Almario)