After seeing minimal playing time throughout the whole year, big man John Ambulodto finally delivered his finest performance of the season to push the Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters over the South Cotabato Warriors in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) season 6 playoffs on November 7 at the Batangas City Coliseum. Behind Ambulodto, Batangas closed the door for South Cotabato’s championship hopes, 73-63.
The Rum Masters Advance to the South Division Finals
Ambulodto recorded a season-high 18 points on 70% shooting from the field on top of grabbing 7 rebounds in 25 minutes of play, making him the best player of the game on Thursday. The 6-foot-5 bruiser took charge of the team in a do-or-die situation that could have sent them packing.
South Cotabato controlled the pace early in the game and led by as much as 15 in the first half. However, with head coach Cholo Villanueva’s adjustments, Batangas came back alive in the second half and eventually took back the lead at the 3-minute mark in the third quarter.
Levi Hernandez also contributed with 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals. Meanwhile, the team’s second-leading scorer, All-Star forward Cedric Ablaza recorded 12 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and a steal. This also is Ablaza’s best outing in this series.
Batangas, who were crowned champions in 2018, will head to the South division finals once again for the third straight time.
On the other hand, Christian Fajarito recorded a double-double (12 points and 11 rebounds). In the final minutes of game 3, Fajarito was the go-to guy for the Warriors, making huge baskets to try and close the gap.
Aside from Fajarito, 2018, Finals MVP Val Acuna is the only Warrior who scored double digits with 10 points on top of his 7 rebounds.
The Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters will face the best team in the South, the Quezon Huskers, on Saturday, November 9, at the Lucena Convention Center for their much-awaited South division finals battle.
