SAN Beda pushed harder in overtime to beat Chiang Kai Shek College last Sunday, 87-81, and rule Division 1 of the Metro Manila Basketball League at the San Beda Gym in Mendiola.
The Red Cubs, with a very long winning tradition in high school basketball, hit two birds with one stone by scoring the close win before an enthusiastic crowd.
San Beda avenged a bitter loss to CKSC in last year’s MMBL finals, and advanced to the National Basketball Training Center Finals set March 13 to 17 at the MOA Arena.
National University A beat San Beda B, 69-61, for the Division 2 title, while Adamson University A trounced Escuela de Sophia of Caloocan, Inc., 87-61, for the Division 3 title.
National University B drove past San Beda D, 69-47, in the Division 4 finals.
Only the top two teams in Division 1 (San Beda and CKSK) advanced to the NBTC Finals, where they will be joined by the UAAP titlist, the champions from Cavite, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Zamboanga, Davao and Cagayan de Oro, and foreign squads Durham Crossover of Canada and Trail International School of Thailand.
The NBTC, which was formed in 2007, is being supported by the SM Group through its sports development program.
PBA champion coach Eric Eltamirano is NBTC program director, while Ato Badolato is in charge of the MMBL.
Albert Bordeos provided the firepower for the Red Cubs, nailing three-pointers from all angles for a game-high 21 points. His two charities sent the game into overtime at 68-68.
But it was Addie Velasquez and Evan Nelle who delivered the killer blows, hitting two triples each in overtime as San Beda finally broke the back of last year’s champion.
Velasquez gave San Beda an 84-75 lead with only 35 seconds left and had 17 points while Nelle, who kept on trying the whole game, had 11 points, including a triple to start the overtime.
Rafaelo Toribio and the sweet-shooting Miguel Oczon led the CKSC Blue Dragons with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Donn Lim and John Galinato each had 11.
“We hit the three-pointers in overtime, and momentum shifted to our favor. They (CKSK) are the defending champions so we prepared harder this year,” said San Beda head coach JB Sison.
The other members of the San Beda squad are Joshua Tagala, Robi Nayve, Christian Samaniega, Prince Etrata, Ry dela Rosa, Germy Mahinay, Peter Alfaro, Samuel Abunijleh, Luke Sese, Miguel Bolanos and JM Lagumen.
San Beda is back in the NBTC Finals where it lost to Sacred Heart of Cebu in last year’s title showdown.
“We will continue training and working hard,” said Sison, backed by Noli and Andy Mejos, Manu Inigo and VL Sandalo in the coaching staff.