#IFBL17Finals: TFTI sweeps way to inaugural Rising Star crown after sinking Spartans

TFTI made IFBL history as they claimed the first ever Rising Stars title last September 14 at the Gatorade Hoops Center after smothering Spartan Kapalaran to wrap up championship Saturday, 71-55.

A huge third quarter blast enabled TFTI to hoist the inaugural crown at the expense of the more experience team in the smallest division of IFBL by height, sweeping their way after they won eight all games to claim the crown.

After Spartan erected a 39-36 lead in the third, TFTI came blazing and answered it with a 12-2 run in the final 4:30 in that period to take the game away, then extended their lead to 18 in the waning moments of the fourth to close out the IFBL in style.

Art Andres led TFTI with 13 points on a 5/7 shooting from the field, while Mark Guteza and Jonathan Redoblado added 12 and 10 respectively,

PJ Fernandez was just two points and an assist shy of a triple-double, while collaring 10 rebounds to get the Finals MVP award.

Rommel Barojabo had 15 for Spartan Kapalaran to lead all scorers.

The scores:

TFTI 71 -- Andres 13, Guteza 12, J . Redoblado 10, Fernandez 8, Delos Santos 6, Paragatos 6, E. Redoblado 4, Guarino 4, A. Redoblado 3, Rago 3, Borre 2, Layag 0, Visda 0, Pua 0

Spartan Kapalaran 55 -- Barojabo 15, Terrado 13, Catindoy 6, Rigor 6, Feliciano 6, Maca 3, Arias 2, Eder 2, Borrel 2, Hilis 0, Saavedra 0, Nival 0, Simora 0

Quarter scores: 13-12, 27-24, 51-41, 71-55

(photo by IFBL)