Fatima stuns San Sebastian for BBI men's crown

MANILA, Philippines – All season long in the sulit.ph BBI Men’s Under-25 tourney that included Team Bs from the big programs of Ateneo, La Salle and UP, the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Golden Stags looked imperious. 

Even playing with an all-Filipino crew, they dispatched their opponents with ease and precision. But their luck ran out against a hungry and talented Our Lady of Fatima University Phoenix over the weekend.

The Phoenix pulled the rug from under the favored Golden Stags, 61-55, to bag the championships at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center.

OLFU got the jump on the Stags from the opening whistle and never let go of the lead after the match’s first and only deadlock at 2-2. 

The Stags’ guns were off target in the first period that saw them hit only 3-19 shots. Although the Phoenix were not much better as they knocked down 4-18 shots, their free throw shooting allowed them to take a 13-8 lead after the first 10 minutes of play.

Then they buckled down to work.

The Phoenix’ African center Chris Essomba gave the Stags further problems when he placed three San Sebastian big men in foul trouble. Jessie Sumoda, JM Calma and Alvin Capobres, who all took turns in trying to contain Essomba all ended up with four fouls. Although Essomba eventually fouled out himself, by then, the game was beyond doubt. The Stags’ rotation was wrecked and at times, it seemed that it was Allyn Bulanadi against five Phoenix players.

The Stags continued to shoot poorly the rest of the way. With OLFU leading 41-34 going into the final period of play, San Sebastian made only seven of 15 field goal attempts and four of 10 free throws. Once more, OLFU didn’t do much better from the field. They knocked down only 6-17 field goal attempts. However, they made up for it by hitting their free throws, 8-11.

Nico Panganiban was the lone Phoenix player in double digits as he topscored with 25 points to go with seven rebounds. OLFU’s Cas De Vera, VJ Alarcon and Essomba each added eight points, but the African’s presence in the lane was huge as hauled down 14 boards and swatted three shots.

San Sebastian’s Bulanadi scored 20 points while Alvin Capobres added 12. But with veterans RK Ilagan, Michael Are, JM Calma, Jesse Sumoda, Jan Dela Cruz and Ken Villapando defended well or struggling, the Stags found it difficult to overhaul the lead.

Named to the Mythical Selection of the tourney were Fatima’s Panganiban and Essomba, San Sebastian’s Bulanadi, TIP’s Ximone Sandagon and AMA Computer College’s Luke Parcero. Panganiban was also named Season MVP as well as the Finals’ Most Valuable Player.