Five of SJP Head Coach Howard Delgado's players scored in double figures during their victory, which he characterized as a team effort ( Jesson Duco-15, Patrick Salvo-13, John Lloyd Kinatagcan-12, Kim Mundiz-10, and Jericho Sauci-10).
Andy Casayas received five points, while Kane Montero and John Sanchez each received eight.
Froi Falcis added four points, Kytt Santillan three points, and Vincent Baban three points.
On September 11, the CJP Red Lions defeated the SJP Saints in their first meeting for the elimination round. This time, however, they did not look back and continued to the final four minutes of the championship game..
However, Sunday night's baseball contest was not without its bumps. After making a second motion, CJP Red Lion Naungayan was disqualified from the competition and accused of being unsportsmanlike
The game had to be stopped with more than five minutes left in the second quarter due to the torrential downpour, but it was picked back up after 30 minutes. The town also had a blackout with 4:30 remaining in the third quarter.
SJP Saints, who had the heart to win the coveted crown, received a fantastic reward.
They earned P50,000 in cash in addition to a trophy, and the CJP Red Lions also received a trophy and P30,000.
"I told my players to not waste or sayangan ang opportunity or chance na gihatag sa amoa na maka abot sa championship. I also told them that since this is the first invitational league after the pandemic, we need to get this championship, para naman maganda ang starting ng taon namin, and they answered my call, and they played well both on offense and defense. We hope we can bring and continue this momentum and good start for our upcoming tournament, "Delgado said.
The Agro-Industrial Foundation Colleges of the Southern Philippines Sailors took third place, earning P20,000 and a trophy. The Philippine Women's College Patriots took fourth place, earning P10,000.
DMMA College of Davao and UM Digos City received consolation prizes of P5,000. (Romeo Braceros, Jr.)