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STI, SSC-Cavite dispute NAASCU title
(10/03/08)

DEFENDING champion STI Colleges and San Sebastian College-Cavite clash for the lasttime this season with no less than the 8th NAASCU men's basketball crown at stake at the Makati Coliseum.

Game time is 2 p.m. with odds about even between the Olympians, who took the series opener, 75-72, last Tuesday and the Baycats, who struck back, 97-75, in the second game of their best-of-three title showdown last Thursday.

"We'll go for it. The boys are looking forward to oursecond straight title, " said STI coach Vic Ycasiano, who is hoping for his second title in four finals appearances in the eight-year-old league.

"The boys look ready and confident despite our Game 2 setback. The loss made them even more determined," added Ycasiano, who joined hands with managers Arnel de Leon and Mhel Garrido in guiding the Olympians to another successful season.

Said SSC-Cavite coach Egay Macaraya: "We now have an opportunity to win our first-ever title since joining the league in 2006. We'll do our best and not allow it to slip away from our hands."

A win by STI will enabled it to become the second winningest team in league history with two titles behind only multi-titled University of Manila, which ruled the league's first five years from 2001 to 2005 and AMA Computed University, which bagged the crown in 2006.

SSC-Cavite, on the other hand, can become only the fourth team in the league to win the title after UM, AMA and STI.

STI will rely on veteran forward Ramon Mabayo and Darryl Mendoza along with rookies William Vasallo, Jay Aransazo and OcaCrisostomo.

SSC-Cavite will lean on backcourt duo of Jhun Gracillas and Oliver Villareal along with slotman Kris Lucernas, Lito Escobal and Leo Callado.

Lucernas will be a marked man this time.

Lucernas, who missed two pressure-packed free throws in the opener last Tuesday, finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds in leading the Baycats to victory.

Last Thursday, newcomer Lyceum of Subic Bay clinched third place, edging St.. Clare College, 89-88.

JC Collado and LA Gapasin led the way for the Sharks with 16 points apiece.

It was a respectable finish for the Sharks of coach Kerwin McKoy and managers Alfonso and Connie Borda.

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NAASCU: SSC-Cavite strikes back vs STI, stays alive
(10/02/08)

DEFENDING champion STI Colleges wanted a victory party like no other.

But San Sebastian College-Cavite had other things inmind.

SSC-Cavite demolished STI, 95-75, to force a deciding third game in the 2008 NAASCU men's basketball championship before another jampacked crowd at the Makati Coliseum.

The third and deciding game will be played at 2 p.m on Saturday, Oct. 4 also at the Makati Colisuem.

With former player-turned-coach Edgar Macaraya calling the shots, the Cavite City-based Baycats produced one of their best games since joining the league three years ago to hammer out a surprisingly easy victory over the heavily-favored Olympians.

"I told you it's not over yet," said Macaraya, who played for Swift and Sta. Lucia Realty in the PBA in 1991 and 1993.

"The boys did their best to avenge our Game 1 loss to the Olympians and keep our hopes for our first NAASCU title alive," added Macaraya.

The "Awesome Foursome" of Kris Lucernas, Raymond Alcasabas, Jhun Gracilla and Mark Basa provided the muich-needed offensive muscle for STI, which earned the right to challenge STI by slamming the door on St. Clare College-Caloocan in the crossover semis.

Lucernas finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Baycats.

Alcasabas added 21 points and Gracilla and Basa contributed 17 points apiece for SSC-Cavite, which is being managed by Fr. Emilio Jaruda.

Daryl Mendoa and Jay Aransazo carried the fight for the Vic Ycasiano-mentored Olympians with 20 points apiece, while veteran Ramon MAbayo contributed 13 markers.

Lucernas, who missed two pressure-packed free throws in the opener last Tuesday, joined hands with Gracilla and Basa in igniting a furious fourth-quarter brakwaway that enabled the Baycats to take a 20-point cushion, 85-65, with 4:15 remaining.

The Olympians did not come any close from there.

"We'll try again next time," said Arnel de Leon, one of two STI team managers credited for transforming the Olympians into collegiate super power.

Actually, the Olympians led 23-20, in the first quarter.

But the Baycats steadily battled their way back by outscoring the Olympians, 31-19, in the second period.

Earlier, newcomer Lyceum of Subic Bay edged St. Clare College, 89-88, to clinch third place.

JC Collado and LA Gapasin fired 16 points apiece to power the Kerwin McKoy-mentored Sharks to a smashing upset win over the Saints.

Four other mainstays -- Aron Pelico, Raymond Elano and Billy Labadan and Valencia -- scored in double figures for lyceum, which is being personally managed by the husband and wife tandem of Alfonso and Connie Borda.

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Informatics bags NAASCU junior title
(10/01/08)

NEWCOMER Informatics International Colleges brought down San Sebastian College-Cavite, 71-59, in their winner-take-all match to clinch the title in the junior division of the eighth NAASCU basketball tournament at the Makati Coliseum.

Handled by coach Jonathan Reyes and assistant coach Jose Sanchez, the Junior Icons went to Benjie Teodoro to frustrate the Baby Baycats in their no-tomorrow encounter.

Teodoro, who was later voted as most valuable player, scattered 22 points for the Quezon City-based squad.

Neil Bunye and Louie Ferrer contributed 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Llyod Pono and Aron Dela Cruz carried the fight for the Noy Catalan-mentored Baby Baycats with 27 points between them.

University of Makati, bannered by Rookie of the Year awardee Ram Quiambao, finished third.

NAASCU president Dr. Ernesto Jay Adalem awarded the trophies to the winner, s assisted by Arnel De Leon, Prof. Isagani Maquiling and commissioner Boy Cahanding

Joining Teodoro and Quiambao in the mythical team were JR magbanua (Informatics) and Yurong and Dela Cruz of SSC-Cavite.

Jonathan Reyes was named Coach of the Year.

Meanwhile, defending champion STI College guns for the title when it meets SSC-Cavite in Game 2 of their best-of-three title showdown in the collegiate division.

STI defeated SSC-Cavite, 75-72, in the opener last Tuesday.

Veteran Ramon Mabayo and rookie Oscar Crisostomo are expected to caryy the fight anew for the Olympians of coach Vic Ycasiano and managers Arnel de Leon and Mhel Garrido.

The Baycats of coach Egay Macaraya will lean on Jhun Gracilla and Lito Escobal.

The scores:

Informatics (71) -- Teodoro 22, Bunye 12, Ferrer 11, Buendia 7, Magbanua 6, Ponciano 6, Doodz 5, Abiang 2, Enriquez 0.

SSC-Cavite (59) -- Pono 14, Dela Cruz 13, Yurong 11, Dagohoy 9, Bacayo 5, Concha 4, Navarro 3, Paran 0, Bungay 0, Monzon 0, Legaspi 0.

Quarterscores: 18-15, 36-27, 56-41, 71-59.

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Lyceum in Final Four
(09/26/08)

NEWCOMER Lyceum of Subic Bay capped a memorable season by beating San Sebastian College-Cavite, 97-87, to clinch the No. 4 spot in the cross-over semifinals in the 8th NASCU basketball tournament at the Makati Coliseum.

Handled by former RP youth player-turned-coach Kerwin McCoy, the Sharks leaned on the dynamic duo of LA Gapasin and JC Collado to close out with a 12-6 win-loss record and clinch the last spot in the cross-over semifinals in this 12-team tournament supported by Magnolia Health Tea and Sunbolt Energy Drinks.

Gapasin topscored with a team-high 29 points, while Collado added 24 points, including six three-pointers, to lead the Sharks to victory.

Billy Ray Labadan contributed 18 points for the Olongapo City-based squad of team owners Alfonso and Connie Borda.

The Sharks will face defending champion and elimination round topnotcher STI College in the cross-over semifinals with the Olympians holding a twice-to-beat advantage.

Actually, Lyceum finished in a three-way with St. Clare College and AMA Computer University with similar 12-6 cards, but the Saints and Sharks got the No. 3 and No. 4 spot by virtue of higher quotient.

Lito Escobal led the Baycats with 14 points, followed by Kris Lucernas and Lyle Antipuesto with 12 points apiece.

Despite the loss, the Baycats still clinched the No. 2 spot with a 13-5 win-loss mark and will meet St. Clare in the cross-over semifinals with a twice-to-beat advantage.

In the junior division, Informatics defeated New Era University,83-66, to clinch the No. 2 spot with 15-3 card.

Informatics and New Era will face again in the cross-over semis with the Junior Icons holding the twice-to-beat advantage.

In the other semis match, No.1 seed SSC-Cavite will meet University of Makati which ousted last year's winner St. Clare, 79-76,

Richard Jabar carried the fight with 23 points for the Baby Saints.

The scores

Senior

Lyceum (97) -- Gapasin 29, Collado 24, Labadan 18, Valencia 9, Velasco 7, Ellano 4, Pellico 2, Campania 2, Postrado 1, Espenelli 1, Morrison 0, Carey 0.

SSC-C (87) -- Escobal 14, Lucernas 12, Antipuesto 12, Basa 11, Ray. Alcasabas 6, Gracilla 6, Acain 5, Villareal 4, Rom. Alcasabas 3, Reyes 3, Serrano 3, Pasagui 2, Alsadoon 2, Callado 0, Filio 0.

Quarterscores: 17-24, 43-46, 74-59, 97-87.

Juniors

Informatics (83) -- Teodoro 17, Bunye 15, Ferrer 12, Magbanua 11, Abiang 7, Doodz 6, Ponciano 5, Enriquez 5, Abadeza 5, Buendia 0, Calayo 0, Blanco 0, Ondillo 0.

NEU (66) -- Rosales 15, Roncal 13, Sarmiento 8, Luz 7, Vitalliano 7, Cuadra 5, Galang 4, Tanuan 3, Delgado 2, Narciso 2, Cleofas 0, Lindo 0.

Quarterscores: 26-10, 46-26, 66-54, 83-66.

UMak (79) -- Quiambao 31, Ramos 24, Altarejos 10, Capil 9, San Juan 3, Dalena 2, Duquitan 0, Remollo 0.

St. Clare (76) -- Jabar 23, Sacay 20, Puno 10, Amad 10, Rojo 9, Sumalnap 7, Sagun 4, Vitales 2, Paguirigan 1, Postigo 0, Bayugan 0, Fortes 0.

Quarterscores: 9-14, 32-39, 55-50, 79-76.

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