Ivan Moreno had a double-double of 21 points and 17 rebounds while Dion Reverente added 15 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and two steals as Stats FXL beat Royals, 82-73 to bag the 2017 Next5Hoops Metro Manila South Leg Qualifier Intermediate Division title last October 29.
Five different players scored in a 12-0 run in the first quarter which gave Stats FXL an 18-9 cushion.
Not long after, the eventual champions opened a double-digit lead in the second quarter, 28-18 after a Ryan Rosas basket.
Later in the fourth quarter, baskets by Jan Posada and Moreno pushed Stats FXL’s lead to the highest at 71-57 with just 6:32 remaining in the match.
Junard Caprida tried to bring Royals back in the contest, as five straight points pulled his team with 75-69 with under three minutes left.
But Moreno and Reverente kept draining timely baskets for Stats FXL. The Royals were unable to get any closer to their opponents after that point as time ran out, settling for the runner-up finish.
Posada chipped in 11 markers while two more finished with eight points apiece for Stats FXL.
Stats FXL had a 49-38 lead in rebounding, and assisted more, 23-15 in the game. Royals made six more triples as they hit a 10-of-28 clip.
Caprida led Royals with 16 points and six boards; Edu Reyes wounded up with 12 markers but shot 4-of-21 from the floor.
