KIB Montalbo sizzled down the stretch to lift The Royal Mandaya Hotel-City Mayor's Office (TRMH-CMO) De La Salle University Green Archers past University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers, 93-88, in the 32nd Kadayawan Basketball Invitational Tournament held at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center on Friday evening.
The 5-foot-11 guard poured in 20 points including 12 at the stretch to lift the win for the Ben Mbala-less Green Archers.
Montalbo, who was scoreless in the first period, at last made his presence felt by later firing five triples.
Leonard Santillan added 17 while Ricci Rivero had 16. The latter wowed the crowd with his awesome dunks.
UST, meanwhile, relied on Jeepy Faundo who canned 15 markers.
UST led, 69-66, at the end of the third and stretched it to 77-69 in the first two minutes of the final period.
But Montalbo was too hot to handle, dropping back-to-back treys with another follow-up basket from Santillan to cut the Growling Tigers' edge to three.
The Green Archers then executed its full-court defense and erupted with an 8-4 run to tie the game at 81-all barely 5:08 left. But DLSU never looked back to secure the win in the cagefest organized as part of the 32nd Kadayawan Sports Festival.
Meanwhile, the Davao All-Stars bowed to defending champion Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, 66-87, in the league presented by the Sports Development Division-City Mayor's Office and officiated by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Davao Chapter.
DLSU was playing FEU as of Friday afternoon as the second game pitted the Davao All-Stars against UST.