Top Flight Canada bags Global Hoops U19 three-peat
MANILA, Philippines — Top Flight Canada rudely slammed the door on Crossover Canada’s Global Hoops International’s Under-19 title ambitions when Ryan Garcia blocked the latter’s Nate Sundararajah’s drive.
On the quick transition, Garcia fed 6-foo-9 center Malcolm Tyler for the two-handed flush that nearly brought the basket down for an 89-76 lead with 56 seconds left.
Top Flight Canada cruised until the end for an emphatic 91-77 win that gave the Vancouver-based basketball club a three-peat at the Blue Eagle Gym.
Riley Santa Juana, who finished with 20 points for Top Flight Canada, was named the U19 division’s Most Valuable Player.
Said Top Flight’s head coach, Nap Santos, “Riley is our MVP in Vancouver, and he is our MVP here in Global Hoops.”
Crossover Canada led by six points several times in the first 15 minutes of the match, the last at 24-18. However, following a three-point play by Nash Munro on LJ Belen for a 27-24 lead, Top Flight Canada never looked back. Jemwell Castro tacked on five straight points and Tyler drove in for a bucket. Just like that, Top Flight Canada was up, 34-24.
Four players scored in double figures for Santos. Robyn Florendo and Malcolm Tyler each scored 12 points with Munro adding 10.
“It feels really good coming off a championship in Vancouver, this is a good win and feeling,” said Santa Juana after being named MVP.
“The boys did what they were supposed to do. They listened and played tough on defense. I am happy with the way all our players contributed. That’s our thing — our players are all unselfish and that makes my coaching job easy,” gushed Santos who during his college days in Manila, played for Letran in the NCAA.
Both Top Flight Canada and Crossover Canada were undefeated in group play. During the semifinals last. Friday, March 20, Top Flight Canada bested Homegrown Australia, 64-55, while Crossover Canada topped Mic Basketball Australia 71-67.
In the U18 boys championship, Bayanihan Elite UK took down Sequioa Camp New Zealand, 54-70, with the former’s Jim Corpuz named MVP.
Mic Australia Scopemed outlasted Crossover Canada for the boys U16 championship, 81-72 with the Aussies’ Xander Rosales bagging the MVP plum.
In the U16 girls championship, Coach D Basketball, behind MVP Nicole Doctolero, defeated Mic Australia Scopemed, 56-44.
Crossover Canada ensured that they would not go home to the Great White North without a title when their U14 squad crushed Philippine New Zealand Basketball Reps, 102-58, behind Jordan Aquino’s MVP performance.
Lastly, Mic Australia Scopemed Team Melbourne Hoops defeated fellow down under squad, Auba Western Australia, 73-52, to take the boys U12 title. Hunter Obedoza was named MVP.
The 2026 Global Hoops Showcase was sponsored by Smart, Jollibee, Gatorade, Wilson, JHoop, Sequioa Hotel, Scopemed and Arceegee.
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