MANILA, Philippines - Hope Christian High School held on at the finish to fend off San Sebastian, 84-74, and crown itself as the first champion team of the Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship (PSSBC) at The Arena in San Juan last Monday.
The Hope Christian cagers rode on the hot-shooting hands of eventual MVP winner Clint Dolinguez, John Apacible and Jollo Go in the early going to seize control then checked their impending skid to salvage the victory in the one-game faceoff for the coveted crown.
The Staglets, who advanced to the finals by stunning NCAA champion San Beda Red Cubs, fought back from a 12-point deficit to threaten at 72-73 but the NCAA runner-up’s rally fizzled out in the end.
Apacible, being eyed by a top UAAP school, came through with clutch baskets to finally take the fight out of the Recto-based squad in the tournament that drew the best teams from NCAA, UAAP and Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Association (MMTLBA).
“I’m happy the boys managed to pull this victory. We played aggressive but got tired. Still the defense was there and we managed to sustain it until the end,” said coach Stevenson Tiu.
The title win – worth P30,000 – was the second straight for the Bernard Yang-managed Hope Christian after ruling the Fr. Martin juniors division last month.
Apacible led five players in double figures with 24 points on top of nine rebounds and two blocks in 36 minutes of play. His four charities after SSC’s Michael Calisaan was slapped with an unsportsmanlike foul keyed the team’s big windup.
Meantime, San Beda repeated over Letran, 76-69, to finish third.
“I want to thank the NCAA, UAAP, Tiong Lian and the other board members for their cooperation and support that made this league successful. More than showcasing the players ability and winning the title, it is the goal of PSSBC to develop the proper conduct among players in the high school we did,” said league chairman Cecilio Pedro, also the No. 1 backer of Hope Christian.
Other officials who graced the tournament backed by Hapee Toothpaste, Welcoat House Paints, Ironcon Builders, MEC Networks, Jumbo Plastic Linoleum, Wrangler, Dickies Underwear and Blackwater Sports were vice chairman Diolceldo Sy and Eduard Tio. Officials of BonChon Chicken and Davies Paints, who sponsored the TV coverage, were also present.
Joining Doliquez and Calisaan in the Mythical Five were Letran’s John Quinto, San Beda’s JV Mocon and SSC’s Ryan Costelo. Also cited were Ateneo’s Thirdy Ravena, San Beda’s Arvin Tolentino, UST’s Prince Martin, Chiang Kai Shek College’s Kimlee Bayquin, Xavier School’s Kyles Lao and NU’s Reginald Morido.