The Chiang Kai Shek College Blazing Dragons emerged “High-5 Champions” in the 7th Baden Powell Cup Basketball Tournament after sweeping the first two games of their best-of-3 finals with St. Stephen’s High School. Capturing its fifth straight championship title in as many years, the Blazing Dragons has emerged as the most dominant team in the seven-year old tournament organized by the Filipino-Chinese Scout Club and supported by Hammerhead Jeans and Shirts, and the Rotary Club of Bagumbayan Manila.

With a close 62-56 win by the Blazing Dragons over the Stephenians in the first game of the championship last February 13, the anticipation for an even more exciting second game brought a larger throng of avid supporters and spectators from both protagonists to the SSHS Basketball Gymnasium on February 17, Wednesday. Simply said, the venue was standing room only to the max that the SSHS guards had to restrict many other supporters from both teams in entering the gymnasium.

The Stephenians started the game showing mastery of their home court, while the Blazing Dragons seemed lost and rattled. As a result, the former took an early command, 15-4, after the first quarter. But not wanting to go down, the CKSC Blazing Dragons showed their composure and were only down by five points, 21-16, after the end of the first half, behind three-point treys by small guard Marc Katigbak and veteran Terenz Chuahay.

The tide quickly shifted in favor of the Blazing Dragons at the start of the third salvo, with Xergg Eadwinn Ang shooting back-to-back triples, aside from four points coming from both Chuahay and Chester Bryan Ngo. More noticeably, the Stephenians’ point production went down to a mere six points after the Blazing Dragons clamped a tight defense on the host team. After three rounds of nerve-wracking hoop action, the Blazing Dragons were comfortably ahead by ten points, 37-27.

The lead ballooned to as much as 18 points in the last quarter, as team captain Jan Christopher Ong waxed hot with three triples. The Stephenians, with their never-say –die attitude, held its own rally, but it proved futile in reversing the outcome of the game, as the CKSC Blazing Dragons romped award with its fifth consecutive title in the tournament at the end of the buzzer, 56-45.

During the awarding ceremony held right after the game, CKSC President Dr. Bee Ching Ong Kian Koc received the championship trophy from Filipino-Chinese Scout Club Vice Presidents Dr. John de Guzman and Dr. Miguel Yu, and Rotary Club President Henry Ong Chan. Also on hand were other team committee members Hannibal Chua, Robert Guerra, and Wai Lin Sing, CoachHerbert Cuenca and his assistants, Michael Marc Chua and Glench Jerwinne Ang. The team sponsors like Eng Bee Tin, New Maxima Tire Supply, Steelhaus General merchandising, and New Empire Printing also sent representatives to join the post-game festivities.

Mrs. Judy Tan, principal of St. Stephen’s High School, received the first runner-up trophy for St. Stephen’s High School and commended the gallant effort of her team. Also present were SSHS Team Manager Charles Eugene Ty and his coaching staff led by Terrill Te. Second and third runner-up trophies were also awarded to Philippine Cultural College Caloocan and Manila, respectively, and were received by PCC Vice President Sining Kotah and Scout Coordinator June Tan.

	MVP John Kenneth Padilla

John Kenneth Padilla of CKSC won the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament plum, while Jan Christopher Ong (CKSC), Brian Ng (SSHS), Darren Royce Tiu (CKSC), Jibbrail Mauricio (PCC-Annex), and Chase Lorenz Chianpian (PCC-Manila) made it to the Mythical Five Selection.

Sportsmanship citations were presented to the other participating teams, namely Quezon City Christian Academy, Hope Christian High School, Philadelphia High School, and Philippine Pasay Chung Hua Academy. Also given merit awards were the best players from these teams, namely Don Alvin Klinton Tan (QCCA), Michael John Carag (HCHS), Vernon Santos (PHS), and Aaron Terrel Sy (PPCHA).