Cebu/USJ-R Khalifa grabs PSL crown, girds for Global Challenge

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu-University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Team Khalifa bagged the crown in the Born 2006 (Under 18) division of the Pilipinas Super League (PSL) National Finals on Thursday, July 11, at the Filoil-EcoOil Centre in San Juan, Metro Manila.

Behind the one-two punch of Clark Candia and Jan Vince Oringo, USJ-R Khalifa banked on a sizzling endgame assault to outclass Pangasinan, 83-71, in their sudden-death final match and pocket the P250,000 champion s purse.

Candia fired 21 points, while Oringo was just a rebound shy from a double-double show as USJ-R Khalifa pummeled their Pangasinense rivals in the final quarter, 30-17, to fashion out a come-from-behind win.

Oringo muscled his way to 20 points and nine rebounds. His impact on both ends of the court earned him the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

Oringo, a reliable big man, also made it to the elite Mythical Five together with Candia.

On the heels of their title glory, USJ-R Khalifa of team manager Atty. Francis Tolibas will right away face a much tougher mission as they fight for the flag and country in the PSL Global Championship Challenge set to kick off on Sunday, July 15 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

The Cebu-based squad will be joined by the other titlists in Davao City (Born 2004, Under 20) and Pampanga (Born 2008, Under 16), in the seven-nation Global event where they will go up against young Filipino players based in the United States, Canada, Italy, United Kingdom, and Thailand in three age groups.