KALIBO, Aklan – Negros Occidental’s Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts emerged as the champion of the Chooks-to-Go SM National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) Western Visayas Regional Finals in Ibajay town of this province yesterday.
Bacolod Taytung completed the perfect run after ousting Iloilo’s St. Robert’s International Academy Panda Rockets, 89-77, in the one-game finale at the Ibajay Social Hall.
The Thunderbolts had a flat start and went down, 18-26, late in the opening period but slowly managed to keep in step with the Panda Rockets to come to within 42-44 at the end of the half.
Bacolod Tay Tung went on to grab the lead at 58-51 midway in the third outing, but St. Robert’s responded with an offensive rally to trim the deficit to only four points at 56-60. The Bacolod representatives were able to get away once more at 68-63 after successful conversions.
It was in the final quarter of the match that Bacolod Tay Tung went for the kill. The team’s inside and outside conversions made the lead extend to its largest at 87-70 with over three minutes left. St. Robert’s tried to make its last push but could only come to as close as 12 points.
Spearheading the Thunderbolts champion team were Heinz Gabriel Demisana, Fritz Valencia, Martin Beatingo, Kent Esparagoza, Josh Luciano, Nathan Jundana, John Mark Mercado, Jules Wong, Joseph Palaganas, Andy Villamer, Ralph Cagalawan, Dritter Ilalto, Lucky Charm Ramos, Benedick Gulmatico and Leindon Chong.
For ruling the Regional Finals, Bacolod Tay Tung is set to represent Western Visayas in the NBTC National Finals at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City later this month.
Prior to winning the championship and earning the bragging right as this region’s best, the Ronald Despi-mentored Thunderbolts kicked off its campaign with a 104-46 win over Guimaras’ Buenavista National High School and a 92-71 triumph versus Hercor College Junior Jaguars of Capiz.
In the semifinals round, the Thunderbolts struggled before escaping with a one-point victory over Aklan’s Melchor Memorial School, Inc. The Panda Rockets, on the other hand, ousted the Junior Jaguars en route to the finals./PN
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