Afril Bernardino carried the fight while Snow Peñaranda struck the decisive blows as New Zealand Bluefire-Batangas outlasted Discovery-Perlas, 79-77, to seize the first professional championship in the Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) on Sunday night at the Enderun Gym.

With the Valkyries ahead by six points, 76-70, Allana Lim and Raiza Palmera-Dy refused to go down easily and uncorked a 7-0 rally that gave Perlas a slim 77-76 separation with less than two minutes remaining in the match.

But Peñaranda worked her way inside, scoring over the outstretched arms of Lovejoy Canderario for the go-ahead basket, giving New Zealand Bluefire-Batangas back the lead, 78-77, at the 1:30-mark.

Discovery-Rizal had plenty of chances to reclaim the lead, but the rally fizzled out in the end as exhaustion set in, with Peñaranda sinking just one of her four free throws across two trips to eventually slam the door shut on the match.

Peñaranda delivered another double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds, while newly-minted Season Most Valuable Player Bernardino, who kept the Valkyries in the game all game long, finished with 18 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, and four steals.

Khate Castillo caught fire in the first half before going scoreless in the second, finishing with 17 points on five triples and four rebounds, while Pringle Fabruada contributed 16 points and eight rebounds in the title-clinching win.

“I’m very proud. We’re playing in the home floor of our opponent. The crowd was with them, but our players didn’t give up and trusted each other. It’s a mixture of heart and hard work,” New Zealand Bluefire-Batangas head coach Cholo Villanueva said.

The Valkyries capped a dominant run to the championship with an overall 12-2 record, finishing the regular season with a league-best 8-2 record and sweeping Tagaytay-Tol in the semifinals and Discovery-Rizal in the Finals to claim the first professional title in WMPBL history.

Over at the other side, Lim paced Perlas with 24 points and six rebounds.

Palmera-Dy added 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Tacky Tacatac stepped up with 13 markers.

However, Tantoy Ferrer was held to just seven points in the heartbreaking defeat.