MUSCAT: Dominos Pizza/Elevate side claimed an unassailable 2-0 lead against Team Excellence in the three-match championship series to emerge Oman Philippines Basketball League (OPBL) B Division champions at the Oman Club recently.
In the second match series, Dominos Pizza/Elevate won 78-70 to complete a 2-0 rout, having won the opener 85-62 to defend their title.
Dominos’ Karl Anthony Lorion was named the best player of the opening match. However, Team Excellence put up a good fight in the next game but eventually lost 78-70 to Dominos. Lagundi, Torrefalma, Ellamil, Dayag, DePaz and Acob had a good game for Team Excellence as they took a 42-30 lead at the halfway stage.
Team Excellence led 70-65 till the dying stages and were looking to take the series into decider. However, Dominos’ Austin Parole scored consecutive crucial baskets to stage a fightback and supported by Ronnie Hernando, Karl Lorion, Mark Israel, and tournament MVP Joshua Alcarde, they won 78-70. It was two successive titles for Dominos, who are coached by Allan Minoza. The coach also won back-to-back best coach awards.
The tournament was organised by OPBL, supported by Hussain Al Rasbi, Alain and Ruby Garcia of Alasm New LLC.