The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) successfully hosted its Invitational Tournament from the 11th to the 23rd of December 2021. Twenty-two (22) teams battled it out for the Championship trophy plus Two Million (Php2,000,000.00) grand prize but only one team can only be crowned as champion.
In the end, it was the Basilan Jumbo Plastic team that took home the crown and the grand prize after a breathtaking victory, 83-80, against the highly-favored Nueva Ecija Vanguards squad. It was a classic battle between the two (2) finalist as the game was won in a memorable buzzer-beater by Philip Manalang in the overtime period.
We take a look at the players who exhibited the best offensive skill during the 13-day tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.MPBL INVITATIONAL CUP
11-23 December 2021
BEST SCORERS
MPBL Invitational Cup
| Rank | Player | Team | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | James Martinez | Bulacan | 20.5 |
2 | Mar Villahermosa | Makati | 19.8 |
3 | Yves Sazon | Marikina | 18.0 |
4 | Michael Juico | Basilan | 18.0 |
5 | Patrick Cabahug | Valenzuela | 16.8 |
6 | Bryan Faundo | Bulacan | 16.4 |
7 | Leo Najorda | Imus | 16.3 |
8 | Mac Tallo | Bicol | 16.0 |
9 | Renato Ular | Marikina | 16.0 |
10 | Jonathan Gantalao Jr. | Negros | 15.8 |
James Martinez of the Bulacan Kuyas is the best scorer of the tournament after he averaged 20.5 points per game to go along with 3.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 0.5 steals per outing. He accomplished this while playing 25.5 minutes per game and shooting at an amazing clip of 51.1% inside the arc and 40.9% from rainbow territory. His team, however, did not reach the playoff but perhaps his biggest game happened when the Bulacan Kuyas dropped the upset axe against the Manila Stars thereby booting out the latter in the elimination round.
Coming in at second place is Mar Villahermosa who led the Makati Blazers with his per game averages of 19.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.5 steals. His efforts, nonetheless, went to naught as his team failed to advance to the quarterfinals.
Spitfire guard Yves Sazon of the Marikina Shoe City is the third best scorer after he poured in 18.0 points per game while adding 1.7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals per match. He shot 41.7% from midrange and 35.7% from beyond the arc.
Michael Juico of Basilan is tied with Yves Sazon with his similar output of 18.0 points per game. Be that as it may, the athletic guard had a better all-around game as he contributed 6.4 boards per game, 3.6 assists per game, 1.4 steals per game, and 0.4 blocks per game. Needless to say, it was a fruitful season for Michael Juico as his team won the championship trophy and the 2 million cash prize.
Completing the top five (5) is Cebuano Sniper Patrick Cabahug of the Valenzuela Mjas Zenith team. He delivered 16.8 points per outing on top of his per game averages of 4.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.3 steals. It was not a fairytale ending for him though as Valenzuela did not advance to the playoffs.