SBC Red
Cubs take Seaoil NBTC championship over Hope Christian HS
by rick olivares
Extreme 97 San Beda College got back
at Mako Hope Christian High School with a 100-96 overtime win the Seaoil
National Basketball Training Center Championship at the Ynares Sports Center in
Pasig City last Sunday, March 3.
The Red Cubs leaned on the outside
shooting of big man Arvin Tolentino and forward Javee Mocon as well as shooting
guard Franz Abuda in the last 15 minutes of play to repulse the tough Hope
Christian side.
One month ago, Hope Christian defeated
San Beda for the Metro Manila Basketball League title.
With vengeance on their mind, the
reigning NCAA titlists looked to blow away their Tiong Lian League opponent as
they led by 21 points early in the first quarter after a bucket by Revrev
Diputado that made it 29-8.
But Hope Christian slowly came back
behind the hot shooting of Jolo Go, the strong inside play of center John
Apacible and the in-and-out game of forward Clint Doliguez.
In an incandescent third quarter, Go
drilled four triples – two of them consecutive -- even with defenders in his
face to notch the count for the very first time at 62-all with 2:02 left to
play in the period. Then Doliguez split two defenders for a strong drive and a
finish for a 64-62 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
With the Red Cubs faltering in the
stretch as they couldn’t break Hope Christian’s zone, they got a huge break
when Apacible was whistled for his fifth and last foul with 4:08 to play and
his team up, 79-77.
With no intimidating center left, San
Beda began to pound the call inside. However Hope Christian managed to stay
with them and even had the chance to win the match in regulation and the score
at 90-all but Go missed a wide open triple from the deep left corner.
Once in overtime, fatigue had caught
up with Hope Christian as guard Wally Villanueva and Doliguez were all tuckered
out after having played their third match of the day.
Earlier in the day, Hope Christian held
off tough Maynilad-Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, the two-time NBTC
defending champions, 73-66, while SBC easily dispatched Smart Iloilo
Central Commercial HS, 101-67. None of
the Red Cubs save for graduating guard, Axel Iñigo, suited up for the Seaoil
NBTC High School All-Star Game that immediately followed (Iñigo did not play in
the NBTC finals).
Despite battling cramps and fatigue,
Hope Christian still had the opportunity to win the match outright but Leo
Guion missed a challenged three-point attempt from the left corner. Mocon
closed out the match with two free throws for the 100-96 win.
Tolentino was named Finals MVP while Doliguez was awarded the Most Outstanding Player of the 2013 Seaoil NBTC Tournament.
-------------
Additional reading: Rey Nambatac wins MVP honors in 2013 Seaoil NBTC HS All-Star Game
Tolentino was named Finals MVP while Doliguez was awarded the Most Outstanding Player of the 2013 Seaoil NBTC Tournament.
-------------
Additional reading: Rey Nambatac wins MVP honors in 2013 Seaoil NBTC HS All-Star Game
No comments:
Post a Comment