Blue Eagles soar higher, captures CNC Title
Wednesday, 28 November 2007 70 Comments
The southern invasion has been aborted, for now.
Thanks to Ateneo for capturing the Flying V National Collegiate Champions League title last November 28, 2007 with a convincing 71-54 victory over University of Visayas at The Arena in San Juan City .
Pride, determination, skills and the will to win were all there for the Blue Eagles to match the intensity brought by the Green Lancers from the start of this exhausting 40-minute game en route to winning the coveted Five hundred Thousand grand prize.
“There’s no doubt about the Green Lancers. They played tough basketball,� said Norman Black, who won his first title in this annual event. “But our desire to answer their challenges was all there all-throughout.�
Ateneo started on a high note, taking an insurmountable 19-4 advantage after Clifford Arao’s jumper in the first quarter. 6-foot-7 center Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Chris Tiu joined forces also in that early run for a 21-12 lead at the start of second quarter.
But University of Visayas , a seven-time CESAFI (Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc.) champion, did not go home without putting up a good fight.
The UV Green Lancers slowly came back by dropping a 15-2 bomb to narrow the gap, 21-18, with 6:02 minutes to go before the halftime break.
The Blue Eagles responded with a 11-3 run to keep the lead, 32-21, with still 2:06 minutes to go. Again, the Green Lancers, with Von Lanete and Ritchum Dennison firing a trey each, had another run – an 8-2 attack – to keep the game close at halftime, 32-26. The 2nd half was all about Ateneo.
Rabeh Al-Hussaini, provided 23 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, delivered 13 of Ateneo’s 19 points in the third quarter to outscore the Green Lancers’ 14. The Blue Eagles continued to sustain their edge, 51-40, towards the start of 4th quarter.
Al-Hussaini’s six straight points, mostly in the shaded lane late in the third period, kept the Blue Eagles on top, 49-38.
Clifford Arao shared the limelight by scoring 7 of his 9 points in the fourth period, including three consecutive points to give Ateneo a 58-44 advantage with the larger Ateneo crowd cheering on with still six minutes remaining.
The Blue Eagles registered their biggest lead, 69-50, when Nonoy Baclao, the tournament MVP, completed a lay-up off Yuri Escueta’s dish with 2:19 minutes to go.
The loss of Reno Berame, with 6 points and 7 boards to his credit, in the middle of the 4th quarter due to five fouls was vital for UV.
Guard Chris Tiu, a member of the Philippine Basketball Team for the 24th Thailand SEA Games, had 11 points, 12 boards and dished off 6 assists, while Kirk Long added 8 points and 8 rebounds. Von Lanete paced the Green Lancers with 13 points.
Ateneo recorded 27-out-of-64 (42%) from the field against the 22-out-of-69 (32%) field goal conversion of UV. Ateneo also led in second chance-points, 13-5, and had the edge in the rebounding department, 52-35. The Blue Eagles also had more assists (20-10) and steals (6-5).
The awarding ceremony was conducted by CCL Chairman Rey Gamboa and Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez.
The Green Lancers settled for first runner-up plus a Two hundred thousand prize money.
For the Mythical Five Team B Selection: Ronnie Mabayo- STI, Ariel Medana – UV, Jervy Cruz – UST,
Chris Diputado-UV, Ken Barracoso – UV
For the Mythical Five Team A Selection: Chris Tiu – Ateneo, Rabeh Al-Hussaini – Ateneo, Dylan Ababou – UST, Reno Berame – UV, Nonoy Baclao – Ateneo
Nonoy Baclao – Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP)
Individual scores:
ATENEO 71–Al-Hussaini 23, Tiu 11, Arao 9, Long 8, Baclao 7, Salamat 5, Barracoso 4, Escueta 4, Baldos 0, Austria 0.
UNIV. OF VISAYAS 54–Lanete 13, Dennison 9, Luga 8, Diputado 8, Mepaña 6, Berame 6, Tancongco 4, Villanil 0, Salughter 0.
Quarter scores: 21-12, 32-26, 51-40, 71-54
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
Grab the RSS
WordPress
70 Comments