Valley of the Suns—After 17 long seasons, the Valley Boys have finally won the PPL Championship! This title marks the first time in franchise history that the Valley Boys have won the Division 1 title. The Valley Boys have also won the Philippine Cup for the second time in franchise history. Today's win marks the first time the Valley Boys have won the Division 1 title and the domestic cup in the same season.
This season was not an easy season for the Valley Boys. They won against a great Diamond Dogs team on their home floor, which required the defensive masterclass of both Fortunato Arcega and Epifanio Querubin. The teams again met in the first round of the Division 1 playoffs, where our first hero, Jesus Pablo Lope, proved that his potential would not limit him. Lope replaced Roger Hartsen due to an injury, which left the team shorthanded. The Valley Boys then meet Jeorgians on their home floor. The Valley Boys were trailing by 5 at the dying portions of the game, where Epifanio Querubin and Sergio Sevilla shouldered the last 8 points of the Valley Boys to win and enter the finals. The finals with PLC 7 went all the way to game 3, with the mindset of protecting the home court. In Game 1, Lorenzo Canedo and Roger Hartsen combined for 55 points to dominate the game. Game 2, PLC 7 fought back hard to push game 3. But in game 3, the Valley Boys were not messing around, leading as much as 21 points, and did not give any hope that PLC would win the game.
The Valley Boys now join the greats, Tools and Equipment, Arcanix Men, and PLC 7 as those teams who have won both the Division 1 title and the Philippine Cup in the same season. The Valley Boys have also succeeded in giving Valley Boys Hall of Famer Cristirose Amante his first ever Division 1 ring.
They say you never win with your first trainees. But the Valley Boys have managed to win with their first-generation trainees, Jesus Pablo Lope and Ardan Rubin, and the second-generation of trainees, Fortunato Arcega and Epifanio Querubin.
The team would try to win both titles again next season, but for now we would just enjoy the off-season.