TRI J COLLECTS SECOND CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE OF THE YEAR, REMAIN KINGS, STRENGTHENS ITS DYNASTY!

Dec 5, 2019, Dasmarinas Village Court, Makati -  JC Sobrevega, General Manager of Tri-J Waterproofers and playing coach, pumps his fist as the final buzzer sounds. With another Championship secured, he scans the room for anymore doubters and haters who thought that it is the end of the team's winning ways. Like a true and classy sportsman, he approaches his fallen opponents and gives them the handshake of a hero and the smirk of a theif. It may have seemed like another day at the office raking-in wins and rings for JC, yet he knows his team faced a super typhoon that could've changed their destiny.

FINALS GAME 3 - GREYSTONE vs. GOLIATH

It all went down to a winner-take-all battle. Game 3 of a best-of-three series. If there was any chance that the Tri-J Titans would go down, this should have been the perfect time. The Greystone internationale, lead by General Manager, defensive specialist, and three-point sniper Amrit Gidwani had everyone convinced that Goliath can be a strike away from falling down. Amrit had a glaring statline of zero (0) losses or all victories in all of his games played throughout the entire tournament; including the do-or-die game 2 versus Tri-J. Yet this night was different. Coming into the game, Greystone knew that they will be missing the services of Emel Rowe, their prized 1st overall pick, Best Defensive Player of the league and Best Player of finals game 2. Also out with a flu was Marc Tagle, who was their instant offense and spark plug of the team. Despite the missing pieces, Greystone stepped in the venue with the swag of the new Sheriff in town, ready to oust the old Mayor. Like a well-oiled machine, the team commanded the pace, tempo and the lead for three (3) quarters.

It was a stellar display of three-point shooting talent for Mukesh Mohnani. It looked like he dipped his hands in holy basketball water and was nonchalantly baptizing three-point shots over the heads of anyone who tried to guard him. Mukesh Mohnani made six (6) three-pointers and finished the game with 26 points, topped with 6 assists and 4 rebounds to lead his team. Miguel Vasquez operated like a veteran securing 19 points, 7 rebounds, 5 rebs, and 2 steals; silently matching the highest game efficiency of Muks. Also on the board was Dino Mohnani with 16 points, Aly Borromeo and Miggy Uytengsu with 11 points each.

It was churning out to be a Cinderella story of Greystone to win it all as the third quarter ends with a 12-point lead for them. Ten more minutes and they get their happily ever after.

Exhausted, heads slumped and still down with a dozen, Tri-J huddled with a familiar face not listed in their current roster. Ton Villanueva, Tri-J veteran and YBC 4 champion, makes his presence felt and makes sure that the Championship poise is in check. The buzzer sounds and the fourth quarter starts...

Little did Greystone know that it was only the beginning of the plot twist directed by Tri-J.

Fourth Quarter started with Tri-J's usual finishing five yet something was unusually familiar with them during this game. They didn't look tired, they didn't look worried, they were locked in. In the very first play, veteran and floor anchor Jancy Unchyat activates his defensive mode by forcing a turnover, leading to an assist to Gabe Natividad finish. This was the start of the snowball effect. In just 2 minutes at the 8-minute mark of the quarter, Tri-J cuts down the lead to 7 points. At the 7-minute mark, the lead was cut to 5, at the 6-minute mark, down 4. Then at the 3-minute mark, Quinito Banzon takes his third cold-blooded 3 to take a 2-point lead over Greystone. 

It was an avalanche coming for Greystone from that point on. Tri-J scored a whopping 45-points in the 4th and final quarter:

You can forget the three quarters, the rest was winning time for Tri-J. Beyond the Xs and Os, beyond the passion and will to win, it was a calculated and composed kill to end the hopes of Greystone. 

Season MVP Gabe Natividad finished the game with 32 points, 16 rebounds and efficiency ratio of 47 while Finals MVP Jan Sobrevega was clutch in the end game with 15 points and ultimately finishing the game with 26 points, 6/10 3pts, 7 assists.

Ultimately, Tri-J cements 2019 with a seemingly unblemished record. How else do you validate one's dominance and supremacy than to take home all Championship Trophies, Medals, MVP Awards?? It was, simply put, a showcase of basketball intelligence and talent at its finest.