Team MBM Elite hailed as ODM Discovery Cup kings after outdueling Ivisan in finals

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The province of Capiz just witnessed the best Under-21 basketball team formed so far.

Carrying an undefeated record from start to finish, Team MBM Construction Elite just showed why they are the best U-21 team in Capiz after bagging the winner-take-all championship series against the municipality of Ivisan during the recently concluded 2023 ODM U-21 Inter-Town Discovery Cup ultimate finals game.

MBM pulled off two dominant outings and defeated Ivisan in two-straight games to earn their title as the first-ever ODM U-21 Inter-Town champions.

The star-studded lineup of team MBM quickly pounced on the town-side champions in Game 1, 95-69, and continued its mastery in the closeout game, 104-78.

Despite an exhausting city-side grand finals series against team MDC Tony’s Lechon, team MBM still found a way to execute their game plan to perfection against an inspired Ivisan squad that showed pure heart against Pontevedra in their town-side grand finals.

Aside from John Fuentes’ scoring prowess that pretty much helped them seal the deal against MDC, team MBM had a productive bunch of selected youngsters who can produce anytime and anywhere for head coach Rolin Loyola and company.

Backstopping Fuentes in the ultimate championship series was the all-around veteran Tantan Arollado who was just dominant against Ivisan.

Arollado immediately buckled to work for team MBM and scored 28 points in Game 1 while putting up 15 markers in the win-or-go-home Game 2 against Ivisan.

Aside from his offensive prowess, Arollado’s all-around effort in both games also paved the way for some of their bench mob to produce easy baskets.

Arollado was also named the tournament’s Ultimate Finals Superstar awardee for his consistent outing and received a specially customized trophy during the recognition ceremony.

“Kudos and congrats to team MBM, best U-21 team, they proved it and earned it. Props man sa Ivisan for making it this far, this is only the beginning. Thank you thank you gd sa tanan nga nag make sini possible ma achieve, ang liga nga ni, all this for the love of the game,” said league commissioner Jeremiah Obera in an exclusive interview with the Daily Guardian.