TEAM Kuya Doc Neri shook off a sloppy third quarter play to finish Team Kuya Father Julius, 77-65, and ruled the long-delayed Green CdeO Eagles Cup 3rd President's Cup, which started last year and only concluded on January 30 at Macabalan covered courts, Cagayan de City.
Towering center Robert Sobiono and playmaker Kuya Tagud led Team Neri with 22 points each, while Boning Biongcog added 14 markers.
Team Neri of acclaimed dentist and sportsman Wilbourne Neri started hot in the first quarter which saw them leading by as much as 18 points.
Sustaining the lead in the second quarter, Team Neri, however, went cold in the third frame, thereby allowing Team Julius of Fr. Julius Clavero to recover as it forced a 50-all deadlock.
With his wife Catrina June Pong-Biongcog watching the game, the rejuvenated Boning Biongcog came to the rescue as he showed her then high school sweetheart that he still got the moves.
Biongcog orchestrated a 7-0 run all by himself to put order back to Team Neri, as it held a double-digit lead en route to a trouble-free endgame run.
Sobiono was adjudged Most Valuable Player for 39-below, while Neri claimed the feat in the 40-above civic division.
In the battle for third place, Team Romuls Power surprised Team Doc Somido with a 99-89 victory.
For the special awards, Mart Mutia, Biongcog, Sobiono, Mac Labares and Tagud comprised the Mythical Five for 39-below. Their 40-up counterparts were Loloy Gelogo, Tata Sala, Boyet Alfeche, Allan Vison and Ulysses Romulo.
Best centers were Sobiono and Gelogo for the 39-below and 40-above categories, respectively, with Tagud and Romulo cited as best guards.
Vison and Saraus shared as best free-throw shooters, while Neri and Rjay Aquino topped the three-point shootout, also in the 40-above and 39-below levels.
Former Ballpals dribbler and businessman Jerry Suyao was acknowledged as the Eagles tourney's best team manager.