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The
 West
Negros University Mustangs grabbed another crown last
night when they swept the Visayas regional tournament of
the Philippine Collegiate Champion League in Bacolod
City.
Playing their best, the Troy Sarabia-mentored Mustangs
delivered as they shrugged off a sluggish start to
trounce John B. Lacson Maritime Foundation University
80-69, in the finals before a big crowd at the WNU Gym.
With
the victory, the Mustangs claimed their third title this
year, after the NOPSSCEA and the LNA7 Open Basketball
Tournament, where they beat a star-studded Ticel-Vladimir
Gonzales squad.
The
Mustangs overcame a cagey first quarter and finished
strong in the second and third periods to beat the
erstwhile undefeated Dolphins, who won three games in a
row to reach the finals.
“We
kept our focus and stayed together because we know they
are a very tough team to beat,” said Coach Troy Sarabia,
whose squad beat Western Leyte College, 122-72, in the
semi-finals yesterday morning.
“It
will take a lot of effort from us to make the Sweet 16,
but games like this prepare us for that challenge,”
added Sarabia, who expressed gratitude to the university
administration, including WNU president Suzette Agustin,
for its all-out support to the team.
The
Mustangs, who captured an 11th straight
NOPSSCEA crown last week, move on to the zonal
qualifying phase in Cebu set Nov. 4 to 8.
“We
thank God for this victory,” said Mustangs manager Tony
Agustin, who is also WNU sports director.
“This win is a testament of our teamwork. Qualifying for
the Sweet 16 is our target. But preparing for such a
difficult tournament is very important and I am hoping
that the coaching staff and the players respond to the
challenge.”
It
will be an uphill climb for the Mustangs as they slug it
out with Adamson, Arellano University, San Sebastian
Cavite, Holy Trinity College of Davao and the second to
fourth placers of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation
for the four places to the Sweet 16 in Manila.
With
the Dolphins opting for a more physical approach, the
Mustangs used their speed to blow the game wide open in
the second half.
The
Mustangs also tightened up their defense in the second
half to silence the Dolphins, who advanced to the finals
via a 103-57 blowout of Bohol Institute of Technology.
Versatile big man Raul Suyod, showing remarkable
improvement after sitting out
 last
year, came off the bench to score 15 points, including
10 in the second period.
With
the game tied at 30, the 6-foot-4 Suyod caused all sorts
of problems for the Dolphins, scoring six in a 10-2
blast to close the second quarter.
The
Mustangs came out with a spring in their step in the
third period with Alfie Villariza and Jeff Jacinto
scoring consecutive baskets as WNU slowly pulled away,
54-43.
A
fastbreak lay-up by Virgilio Dapar off an assist by
Villariza gave the Mustangs their biggest lead yet at
63-45 with 16 seconds left in the period.
The
Dolphins threatened at 61-75 on a triple by Edwin
Peremme with 3:20 remaining, but Jacinto’s long triple
restored order for the Mustangs.
The
crafty Villariza registered a game-high 19 points, after
exploding for 25 in the semifinal victory over WLC.
Jacinto posted 4 points, with six coming from beyond the
arc.
Briton Javelona, Rolly Jaca and Jacinto took turns in
limiting the effectiveness of Dolphins’ chief gunner
Peremme. The JBLMFU forward still finished with 17
points, but most of them came when the outcome was
already settled.
Ken
ferrariz and David Torbeso contributed 16 for the
Dolphins, who emerged champion in the Iloilo PRISAA.
On
their way to the finals, the Mustangs also beat Leyte
Colleges 101-53, and BIT, 109-53.*NAB /
Published in the Visayan Daily Star newspaper on
October 16, 2009.
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