ILOILO City – The Hua Siong College of Iloilo Red Phoenix clinched the championship of the 1st Chairman’s Cup Philippines 17-and-Under basketball tournament held recently here.
The Red Phoenix claimed the championship after scoring a 90-76 domination over University of San Agustin in the one-game finale at the Ty Eng Liong Gymnasium of Hua Siong-Ledesco Campus.
Negrense guard Jid Locsin displayed all-around performance for the Red Phoenix in their gold medal game against the SanAg to be named as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
The La Carlota City, Negros Occidental-native Locsin was also named as part of the Mythical Five along with SanAg’s Corian Cabantog and Gerome Ferrer, Kent Basa of Province of Palawan and Emmanuel Salvio of University of St. La Salle.
The Vincent Conlu-mentored Red Phoenix started their campaign in the three-day tournament with a two-point win over Province of Palawan before scoring a lopsided win against University of St. La Salle.
After clinching an outright semifinals seat with their 2-0 record in the group stage, the Red Phoenix once again prevailed over University of St. La Salle in the Final Four round to bag a seat in the finals.
Aside from Locsin, also members of the Red Phoenix team are Jann Francis Barcellano, Wesley Lana, Honorio Murillo, Rasheed James Duran, John Irvin Sitchon, Henry Penafiel, Rymanuel Montinola, Amiel Dema-ala, Glenn Sucro, John Cabrales and Arnel Fuerte.
Louie Sandig and Shan Yap, meanwhile, were added as late additions to the Hua Siong squad after Dave Recodo and Rean Marchus Matillano were deemed ineligible to compete in the tournament.
Meanwhile, the Province of Palawan salvaged a bronze medal finish in the competition as they defeated University of St. La Salle-Bacolod in the battle for third place game.
The 1st Chairman’s Cup Philippines served as a culmination to the Chairman’s Cup qualifying tournaments held earlier this year in Iloilo City, Negros Occidental and Palawan./PN
