The La Salle Green Hills Greenies punched their ticket to the 2018 Exped SM NBTC National Finals, as they defeated the Chiang Kai College Blue Dragons, 81-64, Thursday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Joel Cagulangan, the top-ranked point guard in the Chooks-to-Go/NBTC rankings, scorched the Blue Dragons, scoring 25 points on an efficient 9-for-16 shooting clip, anchored by six triples. The NCAA Season 93 Finals Most Valuable Player also displayed his passing skills, dishing out six assists.
Jacob Lao also waxed hot from the perimeter, going a perfect 5-for-5 from deep for 17 points.
“We’re happy we’re winning games, it’s our fourth consecutive day playing all out,” head coach Marvin Bienvenida said, as the Greenies made it into the NBTC Finals for the very first time. “I’m just happy with the experience the boys are getting into.”
La Salle, champions of the NCAA Juniors Divison, shot the lights out against Chiang Kai Shek. Led by Cagulangan, the Greenies shot 51 percent from the field while holding their opponent to just 31 percent. High school standout John Galinato led Chiang Kai Shek with 15 points, but ended shooting just 5-for-21 from the field.
“(Jason) Celis, (Frederic) Antiporda, and Galinato, we had to contain that three-headed monsters, we forced them to take those long shots,” quipped Bienvenida.
La Salle will face the winners of the match-up between Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles and NU Bullpups.
“We’re the guest team, we’re the underdogs, hopefully we’ll get it tomorrow,” Bienvenida humbly said.
“Syempre sobrang gutom, first time din po yun champion sa NC then NBTC pa,” added Cagulangan.
In Division 2 of the NBTC Finals, Letran Balanga Bataan will take on La Salle Lipa Chevrons.
The Squires were the first to enter the Finals, beating Saint Louis School Dumaguete, 59-45, behind Aerone Santos’s double-double of 24 points and 11 rebounds.
The Chevrons on the other hand were able to eke out a 79-78 win over St. Benidle International School Calamba. Ian Abila had a big game of 21 points and 15 rebounds while Stephen Javier chipped in with 20 points and five assists.
The Finals of both Division 1 and Division 2 2018 Exped SM NBTC National Finals will take place on Friday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Scores:
LSGH 81 – Cagulangan 25, Lao 17, Marcos 15, Fornilos 9, Mosqueda 8, Sangco 3, Espinosa 2, Natividad 2, Lepalam 0, Perez 0
CKSC 64 – Galinato 15, Agbong 11, Ramirez 9, Lim 7, Banez 6, Luciano 4, Celis 4, Flores 4, Asuncion 4, Antiporda 0
Quarterscores: 25-12, 32-29, 58-40, 81-64
