CKSC repulses FEU, bags Freego Cup title

MANILA, Philippines - JV Gallego took charge in the last quarter as Chiang Kai Shek College turned back Far Eastern University, 73-67, to bag the PCABL (Philippine Chinese Amateur Basketball League) seventh Freego Cup title at the Phil. Buddhacare Academy gym in QC over the weekend.

In a performance reminiscent to his breakout game in the NBTC Finals, Gallego scored 17 of his game-high 27 points in the payoff period to help power the Dragons to their first championship in the annual pre-season tournament for high school.

He also had seven rebounds and two assists to win the Finals MVP – marking the second time that he won the trophy after bagging the same award in the NBTC Finals a couple of months ago.

During the NBTC Finals, the 5-foot-10 Gallego exploded for 32 points to help CKSC beat reigning UAAP champion National University, 88-80.

The title win was the third straight for the Dragons since winning the Passarelle Division of the Milo National Twin Tournaments late last year.

Also shining for the Dragons in the tournament presented by Freego and sponsored by Smart Telecom, Jumbo Plastic Linoleum, Colt Commercial, K Tech Sports, Insular Square of Cebu and Cebu Pioneer Auto Supply were tournament MVP Jonas Tibayan and Fran Yu.

Yu scored 12 of his 16 points in the opening period that saw the Dragons take a 21-11 advantage which they kept on their way to victory.

Tibayan, who tallied 12 points and seven boards, made it to the Mythical Selection along with Mapua’s Sherwin Concepcion and Daniel Aguirre, NU’s Mark Anthony Dyke and JRU’s Mike dela Virgen.

Meantime, Adamson beat Letran, 89-84, to finish third in the tournament that drew most of the top high school teams in the country, including Ateneo and La Salle-Zobel.