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Brian Kerle Basketball Academy is the first-ever Roxas City Invitational Tournament 2026 champion.
The Melbourne, Australia-based BKBA completed a dominant run by sweeping all six games after beating Adamson University, 66-51, in their winner-take-all championship at the Dinggoy Roxas Civic Center here.
NBL1 North Grand Final MVP Tamuri Wigness followed up his explosive 30-point semifinal performance with another strong showing, scoring 23 points on 8-of-15 shooting while adding six rebounds and three assists in 33 minutes for coach Toby Kerle.
Kurt Siwek provided the inside presence with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Max Kerle chipped in 12 points and eight boards.
Jacob Gray added five points for BKBA.
AJ Fransma was the lone Adamson player to score in double figures as he finished with 11 points and five rebounds for coach Nash Racela.
Mathroven Erolon had nine points, three rebounds and three steals, while Precious Jonah contributed seven points, three rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
The Australians actually controlled the game from start to finish, taking a 19-10 lead after the opening quarter and extending it to 36-23 at halftime.
They never allowed the Soaring Falcons to mount a serious comeback, carrying a 49-31 advantage into the final period.
BKBA’s championship capped a perfect six-game campaign in the five-team, six-day tournament held in this popular seaside city known as “Seafood Capital of the Philippines.”
Earlier, University of Perpetual Help System DALTA edged De La Salle University, 66-64, in a tightly-contested battle for third.
Aries Borja finished with 17 points and nine rebounds in 25 minutes of action for the Olsen Racela-mentored Altas.
Mark Gojo Cruz added 11 points, four rebounds and three assists. JM Tulabut and Ray Allen Maglupay finished with seven and six points, respectively.
David Andrei Dungo led La Salle with 17 points, seven rebounds and four steals in 26 minutes for coach Topex Robinson.
Jacob Cortez posted 10 points and seven rebounds, while Jacob Cibull added seven points. Earl Abadam, Luis Pablo, Seven Gagate and Joaquin Tovera chipped in five points apiece.
La Salle led by as many as five points at the half, 38-33, but UPHSD came roaring back in the third quarter and took a 56-53 lead entering the final period.
Meanwhile, Cortez was named as Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Joining Cortez in the Mythical First Five are Kerle (BKBA), Erolon (Adamson), Earl Medina (Adamson) and Moses Kulang (La Salle).
Roxas City Mayor Ronnie Dadivas, tournament executive director Miggy Dadivas and Roxas City awarded the trophies to the top finishers, along with organizer Van Halen Parmis.
The scores:
Battle for third
UPHSD (66) — Borja 17, Gojo-Cruz 11, Tulabut 7, Maglupay 6, Orgo 5, Casinillo 4, Gelsano 4, Velasquez 3, Pagulayan 3, Caugiran 2, Roluna 2, Duremdes 2, Cristino 0, Corpuz 0.
La Salle (64) — Dungo 17, Cortez 10, Cibull 7, Abadam 5, Pablo 5, Gagate 5, Tovera 5, Macalalag 3, Marasigan 3, Amos 3, Kulang 1, Daep 0, Sardon 0.
Quarterscores: 15-16, 33-38, 56-53, 66-64.
Championship
Brian Kerle (66) — Wigness 23, Siwek 13, Kerle 12, Gray 5, Machado 4, Magier 4, Hanns 3, John 2, Ryder 0, Pang 0.
Adamson (51) — Fransma 11, Erolon 9, Jonah 7, Montebon 5, Torres 5, Demisana 4, Perez 3, Barcelona 2, Cruz-Dumont 2, Edding 2, Anabo 1, Ojarikre 0, Medina 0, Mangaron 0.
Quarterscores: 19-10, 36-23, 49-31, 66-51