Acster Marketing/Bacolod Tay Tung High School (BTTHS) successfully defended their crown in the 4th Chairman’s Negros Basketball Tournament finals held last Sunday at the Willy and Nolita Au Court, BTTHS.
Acster BTTHS overcame a halftime deficit and pulled away in the second half to defeat Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod (CSA-B), 61-40.
BTTHS opened the game with a blistering 10-0 run, holding CSA-B scoreless for the first five minutes. However, CSA-B responded with an 18-0 counter-run that spanned two quarters, resulting in a 22-19 halftime lead for the Augustinians.
The trio of Alfred Ysulan, Tobby Orbista, and Paul Adrian Barcelona fueled a decisive 23-8 third-quarter rally to put Acster BTTHS ahead, 42-30, as the game entered the final frame. They then maintained the momentum, outscoring CSA-B 19-10 in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
Tournament MVP and Joshbianc Player of the Game Tobby Orbista led the way with 16 points. Barcelona added 14, Ysulan contributed 13, and Thirdy Binguan chipped in 6.
CSA-B was led by Khian Gawan with 11 points, while Dave Parohinog and France Donio added 6 apiece.
The Mythical Five for the High School Division is composed of Paul Barcelona (BTTHS), Tobby Orbista (BTTHS), France Donio (CSA-B), Raishem Neil Roxas (CSA-B), and Kyle Maja (SSIS).
John Carl Lamonte and John Paul Cabayao (USLS), Dave Parohinog (CSA-B), John Joseph Gerardo (BTCS), and Shaun Estocado (SSIS) made up the Second Team.
Acster BTTHS will represent Negros in the upcoming Chairman’s Cup Philippines in Iloilo City on June 10-14.
BOBCATS CLINCH 15U TITLE
In the 15-and-under division, Bobcats captured the championship with a 65-51 victory over SP Lineage/St. Joseph School-La Salle (SJS-LS), powered by the efforts of tournament MVP Vincent De La Cruz, who scored 18 points.
The Bobcats led 31-24 at halftime behind the efforts of Ranel Mabalon (11 pts), De La Cruz (8 pts), and PJ Rasmo (6 pts), as SJS-LS kept the game close with a combined 13 points from Ziean Ken Panisales, Sean Amahan, and Jan Christof Arcega.
In the third quarter, Rasmo hit back-to-back three-pointers, Mabalon finished a hangtime layup, and Rhett Tabanao added a triple to extend the lead to 46-31, but SP Lineage managed to trim the deficit to 52-39 heading into the fourth.
De La Cruz then scored six straight points to push the lead to a game-high 17 at 58-41. Despite a brief SJS-LS rally, the Bobcats held firm to secure the championship.
Mabalon finished with 16 points, Rasmo had 14, Claro added 7, and Tabanao contributed 6.
For SJS-LS, Arvhey Mahilum led with 9 points, Jabez Honorario had 8, while Tristram Plotria, Breille Biocon, and Johndel Santitigan scored 7 each.
Mythical Five – 15U Division are Vincent De La Cruz (Bobcats) – MVP, PJ Rasmo (Bobcats), Jabez Honorario (SJS-LS), Sean Amahan (SJS-LS), and Seth Guarino (BTTHS). The Second Team is made up of Small Sto. Tomas (TCS), Kent Paolo Gallega (BTTHS), Johndel Santitigan and Tristram Plotria (SJS-LS), and Angelo Neal Villoso (Bobcats).
The 4th Chairman’s Negros Basketball Tournament is held in cooperation with the United Negros Basketball League (UNBL), Toyota Negros Occidental, and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).*
