The Zamboanga Valientes emerged victorious in The Asian Tournament finals, defeating the Macau Black Bears 81-65 over the weekend.
The game, played at the Valientes’ home court in the Philippines, showcased the exceptional talent of former NBA star DeMarcus Cousins, who led his team with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists.
The Valientes secured their title with a strong 25-15 run in the fourth quarter, pulling ahead by as much as 20 points after a dunk by Cousins with less than two minutes remaining on the clock.
Rickey Brice was named Finals MVP, contributing 25 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks to the team’s success.
Head coach Bobidick Delos Santos expressed his pride in the team’s achievement to the media, stating, “I’m very, very proud! Thank God, first of all. We had lots of ups and downs from the first leg until here, but we stuck together.”
Brice echoed these sentiments, saying, “This is life-changing. This is something that I will remember for the rest of my life.”
Despite a strong start from Macau, which led 39-29 at halftime, the Valientes rallied.
Cousins and Brice’s relentless performance cut the deficit to two points by halftime and propelled Zamboanga to a commanding lead in the second half.
Other notable contributions came from Mike Tolomia, who scored 11 points, and Franky Johnson, who added 13.
The Valientes’ victory marks a perfect tournament run, winning all three games leading up to the finals, including a decisive win against the Naic Aces in the semifinals. Nadia Shaw
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