Wednesday, November 12, 2008 MCA cagers Nopsscea champs at last
MANSILINGAN Christian Academy (MCA) finally bagged the high school boy's basketball championship of the Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports Cultural and Educational Association (Nopsscea) as the Eagles clawed St. Joseph's School-La Salle, 95-85, Sunday.
The event was held at the Po Hang Gym of Bacolod Tay Tung High School.
Calma brothers Jade Paul and Janus dominated the boards as MCA pulled away 65-54 in the third canto after a close 43-41-halftime lead. But just when MCA coach Elmo Quiatchon thought his boys already had it all wrapped up, the Knights of coach Friday Solinap worked their way back and threatened at 67-71, mainly through the hardworking Boy Agana.
SJS was just two points short with three minutes left, 77-75, and 81-79 at the 1:30 mark but could not sustain the recovery. The Knights proved, however, to be a tougher customer than their brothers from University of St. La Salle who lost to MCA the day before, 68-83 in a semi-final game played at the Lopue's South Square Gym.
Lack of ceiling for the Junior Stingers proved to be their waterloo as University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos grabbed third place honors with a 93-83 victory earlier. Coach Eugene Opuan had to make do with a small, pressing three-point shooting squad as their taller players have gone to De La Salle Greenhills and La Salle Zobel.
With the championship cup, MCA will spearhead the Nopsscea boys basketball team in the forthcoming Negros Occidental Palarong Panlalawigan or provincial meet.
Among the notable faces for his selection to the Nopsscea squad are Agana and Salvacion of SJS-LS, Bernales and Palermo of UNO-R, and Sibug and Sayson of USLS, among others. (HGD)
