SLU HS crowned NBTC champs

DANIEL Tabangcura and Gabriel Capitly combined for 52 points and towed Saint Louis University (SLU) Laboratory High School to win the regional championship of the Sea Oil National Basketball Training Center Elite League.

SLU swept rival Baguio City National High School, 84-78, in game two of their best of three series at the BCNHS Auditorium Thursday afternoon.

Tabangcura fired a game high of 32 points, 22 in the second half, to lead all scorers and earned him the most valuable crown in the tournament, which serves as a grassroots development program all over the country.

“Hindi kami makalarga ng maayos nung umpisa. Malaki din adjustment naming sa crowd tsaka sa court kasi ito yung unang pagkakataon na maglalaro kami ng City High,” said SLU head coach Samuel Tadeo.

Both teams were dead cold in their shooting in the first period as City High took an early 13-18 lead at the close of the opening canto before wrapping up the first half with a 38-39 advantage.

SLU then made huge adjustments in the third canto as they finally got a taste of the lead, 40-39, before closing the quarter with a 61-56 advantage.

Tabangcura took care of the offense scoring 10 points and drew big help from Capitly’s 20 markers and eventually slowing down BCNHS offense on the other end.

“We knew na nung napagod na yung main man nila eh may chance kami tapos pumapasok na din yung mga tira ng mga bata,” added Tadeo.

BNCHS with their backs pushed against the wall came back strong in the early minutes of the pay off period by tying the ball game at 62 all with 8:27 remaining and even led by one, 72-73, with 4:14 remaining.

Arvin James Bongon, who had 12 points in the first half for City High managed to score only six points in the second half for his 18 points but later fouled out with a minute remaining while Jezreel Alcantara had a team high of 21 points.

Down by a point, Capitly scored a fastbreak after a steal to retake the lead at 74-73 that erupted a six to zero run but City High made a comeback that tied the ball game anew at 78 with 1:40 remaining on a Bongon three free throws.

But it was the last hurrah for City High after they lost key possessions down the stretch which SLU capitalized on to seal the victory.

“Nung nawala si Arvin dahil na foul out siya, dun na kami di nakakuha ng second wind sa end game. But it was a good effort for the team,” closed City High head coach Joey Agacer.