BTTHS, Talisay Sharks grand champions of UNBL League 2nd Chairman’s Cup

Bacolod Tay Tung High School (BTTHS)  and Talisay Sharks are the Grand Champions of the United Negros Basketball League 2nd Chairman’s Cup played last Sunday at the Luis T. Ong Sports Pavilion at SJI Ayala Northpoint.

Talisay Sharks led from start to finish, led by MVP Paul Barcelona who unloaded 18 straight points in the 3rd quarter to finish with 29 points to spearhead Talisay Sharks past Team Kenn, 83-68 in the 15 & under category.

The Ryan Hugnatan-mentored Sharks held a 28-16 opening quarter lead behind playmaker Jerry Binguan with Paul Barcelona and Ace Cortejo at the firing end with 11 and 7 markers, respectively. Thirdy Docto led Team Kenn in the 2nd quarter with 10 pts to cut the deficit to 42-36 at halftime.

In the 3rd quarter, Team Kenn had no answer to Barcelona who sizzled with 18 straight pts and teammate Cortejo scored the last 7 points for Sharks in the quarter to erect a 67-50 lead going to the 4th quarter. Docto and Kristian Melgar tried to salvage Team Kenn’s campaign with 8 points apiece but the Sharks kept Team Kenn at Bay as the trio of Binguan, Cortejo and Orbista connected on timely baskets to seal the title for Talisay Sharks.

Cortejo added 25 pts, Toby Orbista 12, Binguan scored 11, while the once undefeated Team Kenn coached by Irvin De la Peña was bannered by Docto 32 pts, Melgar submitted 16, John Matavia dropped 10, John Sondia made 8, and Zaijan Sarmiento shot 6 pts.

Meanwhile, BTTHS held off University of St. La Salle (USLS) 57-48 to capture the 17 & Under Grand Champion title.

BTTHS handled by Coach Atoy Callora opened the game blanking USLS with 8 straight pts behind its full court defense, but USLS recovered and scored 10 straight pts as the 1st quarter ended at 10- all.

A balance BTTHS offensive led by the 2 triples of Vince Hugo put BTTHS on top, 30-22 at the break. In the 3rd quarter, USLS Josiah Asis was relentless in the low post as he gathered several rebounds and put back good for 7 points to cut the deficit to 39-34. In the payoff quarter, Rojie Enderes carried the scoring load for USLS with 8 points while BTTHS countered with Adrian Alagaban and Hugo to keep the lead for BTTHS.

USLS had a last chance to draw closer when BTTHS was on top 51-46 and USLS had the possession after a scramble, but a turnover resulted to a 3-point play by Justine Jalea.

In the ensuing play a squandered USLS offensive resulted to an Ahron Cagayan put back in the other end to restore the lead to 10 pts with a minute left in the titular game.

Royal Star Player of the Game Hugo paced BTTHS with 13 pts, MVP Alagaban added 11, Jalea 9 pitched in pts, Ysulan and Ronin Bedonia delivered 6 pts apiece.

Enderes spearheaded the Michael Lim mentored USLS with 15, Josiah Asis hit 10, Kian James Ramos and Emmanuel Salvio with 4 pts apiece.

The members of the Mythical 5 in the 17 & Under category are as follows: Rojie Enderes and Emmanuel Salvio from USLS, Justine Jalea, Vince Hugo and Adrian Alagaban from BTTHS.

In the 15 & Under Category, the mythical 5 members are Paul Barcelona and Jerry Binguan from Talisay Sharks, John Paul Cabayao of USLS, Francis Lamasan of BTTHS, Kristian Melgar from Team Kenn.

The UNBL partnered with Toyota Negros Occidental in staging the 2nd Chairman’s Cup.

BTTHS and USLS will advance to the 1st ever Chairman’s Cup Philippines wherein they will clash with teams from Iloilo and Palawan in Iloilo City on September 14-17, 2023.* (Cyrus Garde)