San Beda Red Cubs beat LSGH, bag 19th NCAA basketball title

Francis Abarcar made sure he and the other graduating senior members of the San Beda Red Cubs end their 87th NCAA season as winners. Abarcar scored nine of his team-high 18 points to guide the Red Cubs to their third straight juniors crown with a 69-61 win over the CSB-La Salle Greenhills Greenies in Game Three of the championship series Thursday at The Arena in San Juan City. "This was the sweetest victory of our last three championships since we only had six holdovers from the champion team last year. We really worked hard to win this title," said San Beda coach Britt Reroma, the author of the Red Cubs' last two titles. Abarcar also had seven rebounds, two assists and blocked one shot to earn the finals Most Valuable Player award. Reroma made true to his promise of ending the title series and give San Beda its 19th overall crown in the high school basketball tournament. Limuel Patenio sparked an 11-3 as San Beda enjoyed a 10-point spread, 41-31, with still four minutes and 44 seconds. A three-pointer by Daryl Nazarano, who finished with 10 points, in the 6:37-mark of the final period hiked the Red Cubs’ lead to 60-43. LSGH trimmed the lead to eight, 65-57, but time was not on the Greenies’ side as there are only 74 minutes left in the game clock. Thomas Torres led the Junior Blazers with 25 points, eight rebounds, five assists and one steal but failed to get the needed support from his teammates. Mario Bonleon and Jon Villaruz, the Greenies' other top gunners, were held to nine and eight points each. LSGH also missed the services of Angelo Vito as the National youth team member failed to finish the match after injuring his left knee 2:51 left in the opening period. The Greenies' Game Two hero Andre Paras was held scoreless in 21 minutes of action. — With Rodneil Quiteles/Renee Fopalan/OMG/JVP, GMA News Online