Former Jose Rizal University standout Teytey Teodoro rose to the occasion for the Tamaraws, delivering a stellar performance in the final quarter to secure the win against a resilient Bicol squad. Teodoro lit up the scoreboard with 10 points in the pivotal fourth quarter, including the Tamaraws' last eight points of the game. His clutch free throws with just 7.4 seconds remaining proved to be the difference-maker, sealing the victory for Mindoro.
Teodoro's outstanding contribution earned him the recognition of best player of the game, finishing with a game-high 19 points, along with five rebounds, two assists, and two steals in just over 20 minutes of play.
Meanwhile, Ralph Jeffrey Deles led the charge for the Bicol Oragons with an impressive performance, tallying 16 points, 15 rebounds, and six assists. Despite Deles' commendable efforts, the Oragons fell short against a determined Mindoro squad led by Teodoro's heroics.
With this opening victory, Mindoro Tamaraws have made a promising start to the 6th MPBL season, joining Zamboanga and Abra as the early frontrunners in the 30-team field. The win sets a positive tone for Mindoro as they look to build momentum and make a statement in the highly competitive MPBL.
WATCH: Bicol vs. Mindoro Game Highlights
The Scores:
Mindoro 84 - Teodoro 19, Bono 15, Desiderio 14, Rios 12, Olivares 9, Ariar 5, Estrella 4, Reyes 4, Caspe 2, Aquino 0, Huerto 0, Melton 0, Pableo 0.
Bicolandia 81 - Deles 16, Lee 12, Rojas 11, Gallego 10, Javier 10, Yu 8, Alanes 5, Llagas 3, Casajeros 2, Llarena 2, Reyes 2, Go 0.