Photo by Knights Basketball League.
By Miguel La Torre
The Knights Basketball League (KBL) ended its maiden season with success; awarding the Antbox Notorious and Batch ’89 the inaugural crowns for the Squires and Knights division last Sunday, July 15 at the Blessed Antonio Varona Gymnasium in Letran.
Antbox Notorious was crowned as the Squires’ division champions after handing Luxury wrap a 29-point beating in the finals round. Two-time NCAA champion Boyet Bautista won Finals MVP to cap off Notorious’ splendid campaign.
Bautista, along with teammate Bon Quirante was included in the Squires’ mythical five and were joined by Season MVP Kit Rorospa (Luxury Wrap), Jonathan Aldave (M9), and Kojack Melegrito (Letran JSCR).
For the Knights division, Batch ’89 held on to a late-game rally to upset a younger Batch ’92 with a score of 69-62. Allan Robert Cordero nabbed the Finals MVP plum for Batch ‘89.
Jay Valdez (Batch ’92), Bonbon Lim (Batch ’94), Nino Dela Cruz (Batch ’94), Joseph Dichoso (Batch ’95), and Dennis De Leon (Batch ’89) rounded-up the mythical five for the Knights division.
Samboy Lim’s cup was KBL’s introductory season; the league’s profit would benefit the Letran Legend who collapsed during an exhibition game following a heart attack four years ago.
“Every season na gagawin namin, merong beneficiary. And for this season, ang binigyan namin is our alumnus Samboy Lim which came from the players’ league fees,” KBL Commissioner Ronjay Enrile explained.
“Naghahanap pa kami [beneficiary], it’s either our athletes or sa adopted community ng Letran. Rest assured na every season, meron kaming beneficiary,” said Enrile, when asked about what’s next for KBL.