Lions, Tams share NCC cage crown

SWEET REVENGE San Beda’s co-champion Red Lions with PCCL chief Rey Gamboa (right) after their victory over Letran. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

SAN BEDA found redemption after a blown NCAA championship bid while UAAP titleholder Far Eastern University was just as ferocious from both ends as both schools finished co-champions yesterday in the National Collegiate Championship.

The Lions came out roaring from the start and feasted on fierce rivals and NCAA tormentors Letran Knights, 94-72.

The Tamaraws, leaning on the end-game heroics of guard Joe Allen Trinidad, held off the University of San Carlos Warriors, 82-77, in the other game at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The two schools were declared co-winners after the tournament got stripped of one playdate because of Typhoon “Nona.” Organizers later decided to name the winners of the semifinals co-champions.

Robert Bolick, Davon Potts and Donald Tankoua took turns attacking the hoop as the defending champion Lions clawed to a double-digit lead early on and widened the gap to 29 points late in the third.

From thereon, it was just a matter of counting the minutes with the Lions  maintaining control the rest of the way to finally exact sweet revenge.

After claiming the NCAA crown for five consecutive seasons, the Lions lost this year’s title to the Knights.

Rookie Ken Holmqvist, who was later named league MVP, was a surprise package for the Tamaraws after the mobile 6-foot-8 pivotman came away with 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting and 11 rebounds. Trinidad scored 10 of FEU’s last 12 points and finished with 19 points.

“It really helped these kids gain exposure going into the next UAAP season,” said FEU coach Nash Racela after the Tamaraws won two major collegiate championships in a month.

The scores:

First Game

SBC 94—Potts 11, Tankoua 9, Sara 9, Mocon 9, Tongco 9, Oftana 9, Soberano 9, Cabanag 9, Bolick 8, Noah 7, Sedillo 4, Presbitero 1, Carlos 0, Bonsubre 0, Adamos 0.

LETRAN 72—Balanza 15, Nambatac 10, Sollano 9, Dela Pena 6, Calvo 5, Gedaria 5, Publico 5, Apolonio 5, Bernabe 4, Luib 2, Apreku 2, Quinto 2, Balagasay 1, Caralipio 1, Ular 0.

Quarters: 26-12, 49-28, 76-51, 94-72

Second Game

FEU 82—Trinidad 19, K. Holmqvist 17, S. Holmqvist 10, Bienes 9, Orizu 8, Comboy 7, Ebona 4, Nunag 4, Lee 2, Roxas 2, Delos Santos 0, Arong 0, Bayquin 0.

USC 77—Tagapan 20, Olago 14, Toyambi 13, McAloney 9, Pepito 7, Ortega 6, Laguyo 5, Magat 3, Maconocido 0, Rabat 0, Lim 0, Ecarma 0.

Quarters: 24-16, 36-34, 57-49, 82-77