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RAIN Or Shine Stuns San Miguel For U11 Crown; Blackwater Pulls Off 9U Comeback To Cap Perfect Run
Photo credit: PBA
The 2025 Batang PBA tournament finals delivered a double dose of drama at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig on Wednesday, as RAIN or Shine pulled off a stunning upset over the previously unbeaten San Miguel to clinch the Under-11 crown, while Blackwater completed a thrilling comeback to capture the Under-9 title and finish the tournament unbeaten.
RAIN or Shine Rises in U11 Finale
Fueled by a fast start and timely contributions from multiple players, the Batang Elasto Painters shocked San Miguel, 75-70, to wrest the U11 championship in a game that saw momentum swing wildly in the second half.
Xavier Jeongco led the charge with 20 points, spearheading an early 39-28 advantage that gave RAIN or Shine just enough cushion to withstand a furious rally from the Batang Beermen in the final minutes.
Kyrie Erickson Llego and Elijah Alexander Tirona provided vital support with 18 points apiece, while Ulan Rico chipped in 14 in a solid all-around effort. The win was made even sweeter as it served as payback for their 65-49 loss to San Miguel in the elimination round.
San Miguel, which had gone unbeaten leading up to the finals, couldn’t sustain its strong first-half showing. Glenn Mikael Mabulac (21 points), Mikkael Dominic Castañeda (16), and Ralph Lucas Sy (13) all made their presence felt early but were held in check when it mattered most.
Blackwater Completes Perfect 9U Campaign with Narrow Escape
In the Under-9 division, Blackwater battled back from a massive halftime deficit to edge Converge, 59-58, in a heart-pounding finish that sealed a perfect 5-0 tournament run.
Down 15-32 at halftime, the Batang Bossing regrouped with stifling defense and key baskets from Zyn Khalleb Cadallo, who finished with 11 points. Carmelo Keeyan Leongson and Kendrick Dominguez added 10 each in the remarkable rally.
The comeback was fueled by Blackwater’s ability to contain Converge’s prolific scorer Christian Jacob Tan, who had poured in 42 and 40 points in his last two games. Tan still led his team with 19 points but struggled to find the same rhythm under intense defensive pressure. Sebastien Gray Castro and Francis Ian Mendoza added 13 and 10 points, respectively, for the Batang FiberXers, who came up just short in the end.
The twin triumphs by RAIN or Shine and Blackwater capped an exciting day of youth basketball that highlighted resilience, teamwork, and a glimpse of the future for Philippine hoops.
RAIN or Shine Rises in U11 Finale
Fueled by a fast start and timely contributions from multiple players, the Batang Elasto Painters shocked San Miguel, 75-70, to wrest the U11 championship in a game that saw momentum swing wildly in the second half.
Xavier Jeongco led the charge with 20 points, spearheading an early 39-28 advantage that gave RAIN or Shine just enough cushion to withstand a furious rally from the Batang Beermen in the final minutes.
Kyrie Erickson Llego and Elijah Alexander Tirona provided vital support with 18 points apiece, while Ulan Rico chipped in 14 in a solid all-around effort. The win was made even sweeter as it served as payback for their 65-49 loss to San Miguel in the elimination round.
San Miguel, which had gone unbeaten leading up to the finals, couldn’t sustain its strong first-half showing. Glenn Mikael Mabulac (21 points), Mikkael Dominic Castañeda (16), and Ralph Lucas Sy (13) all made their presence felt early but were held in check when it mattered most.
Blackwater Completes Perfect 9U Campaign with Narrow Escape
In the Under-9 division, Blackwater battled back from a massive halftime deficit to edge Converge, 59-58, in a heart-pounding finish that sealed a perfect 5-0 tournament run.
Down 15-32 at halftime, the Batang Bossing regrouped with stifling defense and key baskets from Zyn Khalleb Cadallo, who finished with 11 points. Carmelo Keeyan Leongson and Kendrick Dominguez added 10 each in the remarkable rally.
The comeback was fueled by Blackwater’s ability to contain Converge’s prolific scorer Christian Jacob Tan, who had poured in 42 and 40 points in his last two games. Tan still led his team with 19 points but struggled to find the same rhythm under intense defensive pressure. Sebastien Gray Castro and Francis Ian Mendoza added 13 and 10 points, respectively, for the Batang FiberXers, who came up just short in the end.
The twin triumphs by RAIN or Shine and Blackwater capped an exciting day of youth basketball that highlighted resilience, teamwork, and a glimpse of the future for Philippine hoops.
Jun 18, 2025
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