ATENEO de Davao University lost the Elite Star Division title (12 years old and below) to Ford Academy of the Arts (FAA) but still captured the Davao Pride Basketball League (DPBL) Season 3 Rising Division crown as three other teams also emerged champions by sweeping their respective best-of-three championship games at the Rizal Memorial Colleges (RMC) Petro Gazz Arena.
Ateneo de Davao University (Addu) Blue Knights bowed to FAA, 46-57, in Game 2 after absorbing a 48-50 loss in their first Elite Division finals encounter. Ford's Kenneydy Amper was hailed most valuable player (MVP).
Ateneo coach Harry Hipolito said they were leading at halftime. “Hindi na-sustain ang lead dahil natalo kami sa hustle and rebounding. Mas maraming opportunities to score ang kalaban and kami limited opportunities and hindi pa namin na convert,” he said.
Ateneo bounced back in the Rising Division (11-below) by routing San Pedro College (SPC), 50-37, in their second clash behind the heroics of MVP Abram Kyle Amaneo who sank 16 points.
Hipolito said they employed a full court trapping defense against SPC. “Na-contain namin mga scorers nila kaya medyo comfortable ang lead namin buong game,” he added.
The Blue Knights also defeated SPC, 52-42, in Game 1. The Rising champion team was also bannered by Julian Joaquin Garcia, Jalf Pitulan, Astin Parker Sañano, Rowe Isaac Tavita, Mark Julius Magnaye, Theodore Emmanuel Zamora, Andrew Dexter Castro, Gabriel Manzano, Wayne Cabanalan, Brent Carlo Marcoso and Al-Jabir Khail Hernandez.
Meanwhile, MVP Jose Lumanag lifted Holy Child College of Davao (HCCD) Red Eagles' Rock Star Division championship victory over Lamb of God Sped Academy (LGSA), 70-66, in Game 2.
The Philippine Women’s College of Davao (PWC), for its part, nailed the Aspirants Division title by outlasting Malayan Colleges Mindanao (MCM), 77-73, with MVP Romeo Langa pouring in 18 markers while the Jose Maria College (JMC) Kings tamed the RMC Bulldogs, 77-73, to clinch the Competitors Division championship trophy with MVP James Payosing scoring 16.