BACOLOD Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts came out with solid games this week to claim the Bacolod Leg title of the SM-National Basketball Training Center tournament.
Coming off a 95-87 defeat in Game 1 against STI West Negros University (WNU) at the latter’s turf, the Thunderbolts posted as much as 25-point lead in Game 2 at their own Po Hang gym. The Junior Mustangs refused to give up but their effort was not enough as the Thunderbolts equalized the Best-of-3 Series with a 97-88 win.
In Game 3, Tay Tung sparked a 19-16 opening quarter lead in the match played at a neutral venue – the Natalio G. Velez Sports and Cultural Center in Silay City.
The Junior Mustangs fought back with a 23-17 blast to take the lead at the break, 39-36 but the celebration was short-lived as Tay Tung imposed its own tight defense over STI WNU, scoring a similar 23-17 output to boost a 59-56 going into the final period.
Both teams played closely in the pay-off period but Tay Tung pulled off a 24-21 final run to retain their crown, 83-77. They lost to USLS last year also in Silay City.
Eventual Most Valuable Player awardee Ryan Cruz topscored with 21 points as Mart Barrera added 17 points while Harold Alarcon hit 13 points.
Clyd Seballos led STI WNU with 19 points as Philip John Majometaño added 14 points. (HGD)