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THEY came, they saw, they conquered.

Unheralded University of Perpetual Help System Laguna achieved the unthinkable, coming through in the clutch to dethrone back-to-back champion Don Bosco Technical College Grey Wolves, 82-80 in the winner-take-all Finals of NCAA-South Season 12 last October 23 at the First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities Indoor Sports Arena in Tanauan City, Batangas.

Swingman Marc Arciaga converted on a give-and-go play from Jake Yagonia to break an 80-all deadlock with under 20 ticks left in the game. Don Bosco sued for time with about seven seconds remaining, but botched the succeeding play after Arciaga picked off the inbounds pass meant for Don Bosco forward Bjorn Casibang. The run-and-gun Saints then ran out the clock to complete the seemingly improbable feat.

“Yung team ng Don Bosco, powerhouse yan. Kung hindi namin lalabanan niyan ng takbuhan, walang mangyayari sa amin. Yun ang weapon namin, yung running game namin. Malalaki nga yung players nila, pero napagod sila nang maset namin yung tempo na takbuhan,” an elated Perpetual Help head coach Victor Sanchez said.

Perpetual Help Laguna, which finished the elimination round in a three-way tie for second with a 7-2 win-loss record, slipped to the fourth seed by virtue of an inferior quotient, and thus had to face a then-undefeated San Beda College-Alabang squad with a twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals. But Sanchez’s troops didn’t relent and pulled the trick on the Red Lions before ending the Grey Wolves’ reign as NCAA-South champions.

Yagonia led a balanced scoring attack with 20 points, while Arciaga, who played hurt after sustaining an injury earlier in the game, had 19 markers. Tournament Most Valuable Player Merlin Custodio had a near double-double with nine points and 10 boards. Big man Charles Corpuz led Don Bosco with a game-high 24 points, while Casibang scored 21.

With the win, the fourth-ranked outfit from Biñan booked its ticket to the 2010 Philippine Collegiate Champions League Luzon-Metro Manila zonals, to be held from November 10-12 at the Arellano Gym in Legarda, Manila. The 12-team bracket includes National University and University of the East from the UAAP; Colegio de San Juan de Letran and Arellano University from the NCAA; Colegio de Sta. Monica from the UCAA; Lyceum of the Philippines University Manila of the ISAA; NAASCU champion University of Manila; MMCAA titlist Central Colleges of the Philippines; UCLAAI kings St. Francis of Assisi College; South-Luzon/Bicol regional winner Computer Communication Development Institute Wildcats from Sorsogon City, Sorsogon and North Luzon regional ruler University of Baguio. The 12 squads will vie for four PCCL Sweet 16 berths. With reports from Chris Lagrio

The scores:

Perpetual Help Laguna 82 – Yagonia 20, Arciaga 19, Sanchez 13, Baudi 11, Custodio 9, Bustillos 5, Salinas 5, Enriquez 0, Reyes 0, Tipon 0.

Don Bosco 80 – Corpuz 24, Casibang 21, Madamba 8, Garcia 8, Ueki 8, Tabulog 5, Jose 4, Lim 4, Cruz 2, Gines 0, Mescallado 0.

Quarter scoring: 17-15, 42-41, 59-56, 82-80.

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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