The La Salle Green Hills Greenies entered the day hoping for a double championship in the 2018 SMART City Hoops Summer Classic. However, the Xavier School Golden Stallions 10-under team had other plans.
To open the day, the La Salle Green Hills Greenies outlasted the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Staglets, 65-58, to win the SMART City Hoops Summer Classic 10-under championship.
Behind the frontline of Brian Hachuela and Andre Minas, the Greenies were able to surge ahead in the third frame, helping turn a slim 35-33 lead to a 47-36 advantage late in the quarter.
La Salle’s grew to as high as 16 points, 64-48, with 2:58 left. Drawing inspiration from the crowd they brought to the venue, San Sebastian had one last rally in them, going on a 10-0 run capped by a split on the stripe by Geof Lopez to cut the lead to just six with 52 seconds remaining.
It was the last gasp for the Staglets, however, as the Greenies were able to hold on to secure the championship.
Hachuela paced the Greenies with 17 points and 18 rebounds, while tournament Most Valuable Player Minas added 14 markers.
With Mythical Five team member Lopez limited to just nine points on 3-of-13 shooting, it was Carl Galindez who stepped up for the Staglets. Galindez finished with 14 points and seven steals.
However, the Stallions did not allow a double celebration to take place, as they were able to cap their Cinderella run in the tournament by stunning the previously-unbeaten Greenies, 39-34.
Behind the duo of Lance Tangsoc and Yuan Yu, Xavier was able to go on an 8-0 run to gain a 32-27 lead with 3:32 remaining in the contest. La Salle then went on a counter run to trim the lead to just a solitary point with 1:13 left.
Able to get a stop, La Salle’s Dom Tuason went for a daredevil drive to the hoop. However, he was called for a travelling violation, denying the Greenies the made bucket.
Free throws by Rambert Lagar, Tangsoc, and Yu handed Xavier the championship while ending La Salle’s streak at six.
Mythical Five member Andrew Chio led Xavier with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Yuan finished with a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds. Moreover, they helped lock down tournament MVP Tuason to just seven points on 1-of-11 shooting while forcing 12 turnovers.
The Scores:
12U Finals:
LSGH 65 – Hachuela 17, Minas 14, Hizon 11, Gomez 10, Cortez 4, Sison 4, Peralta 3, Jugo 2, Muyuela 0, Torres 0, Ventura 0.
SSC-R 58 – Galindez 14, Manding 10, Lopez 9, Guanzon 8, Ramilio 6, Lugtu 7, Manalad 3, Delos Santos 2, Bariacto 0, Aran 0, Yran 0, Aran 0.
Quarterscores: 12-10, 25-24, 51-40, 65-58.
10U Finals:
XS 39 – Chio 14, Yu 10, Tangsoc 6, Lagar 5, Yaumontek 2, Lugapo 2, Ibanez 0, Gensolin 0, De Leon 0, Go 0, Krin 0, Calina 0.
LSGH 34 – Nonato 11, Garama 7, Tuason 7, Victolero 5, Villacencio 2, Talusan 2, Cruz 0, Legarde 0, Paras 0, Hizon 0, Rosales 0, Nagano 0, Dulay 0, Delos Reyes 0.
Quarterscores: 4-4, 18-15, 24-25, 39-34.
