Baycats new NAASCU Champs

Kris Lucernas scores unmolested

Free throw (Fuh-ree Tuh-row) A free shot from 15 feet.

I was once told that free throws are supposed to made free,. That is why missing a free throw is a cardinal sin in a basketball game. That is why we always ask ourselves, how will a team expect to win if they miss 23 free throws in one game. That was the waterloo that the STI College Olympians put themselves into as the San Sebastian College Recoletos de Cavite Baycats exploited this chink in the Olympians armor to get the all important 86-77 game three win to dethrone the champs and crown themselves as the 8^th NAASCU Seniors Basketball champions.

Arnold Danganan on the fastbreak

The game was another classic as both teams would not blink an eye may it be in defense or in offense. The Baycats started where they left of, by nailing the first three-pointer in their first attempt. Confidence runs high in the game of Raymond Alacasabas as he hit a three pointer while Mark Basa was humming offensively once again. ON the other side of the court, Ramon Mabayo was all business as he drove to the lane with authority. The Olympians stepped up their defense as Darryl Mendoza and Mabayo swatted almost every shot that the Baycats had in the paint.

Ramon Mabayo fell short of another title

The Olympians waxed hot as Norman Ihalas sank three three pointers to give the Olympians a 49-43 lead. Just when everything was going their way the Olympians left Mark Basa open for two consecutive plays and the Olympians paid dearly for the Baycat forward sank two consecutive three pointers to tie the count 49-all. This gave renewed confidence to the Baycats as they ended the quarter with torrid outside shooting and their transition game was hard to check to give them a 64-59 lead going into the pay off period. The Olympians tried to match the firepower of the Baycats who were trying to pull away but unfortunately could not fend off the tough stand of the Olympians. With the game still within reach ad the Baycats just ahead by four 74-70, the Olympians self destructed in the face of an 12-7 wind up by the Baycats as they missed 6 important free throws going to the last four minutes of the game. This eventually led to the Baycats getting their first title in the league.

SSC's Kris Lucernas is the league's MVP

Baycats Center - Forward Kris Lucernas was voted as the league MVP while Ric Gracilla, Ramon Mabayo, JJ Collado of Subic Bay and Richmond Sibal of St. Clare composed the Mythical five. St. Clare's Aries Pariñas is this season's Rookie of the year. Coach Egay Macaraya also won the Coach of the Year award which usually goes to the champion team. It was the first time in the history of the NAASCU that a game three was played in the championship, at the same time this is the fourth straight year that the Olympians played in the NAASCU finals.

SSC Baycats, 8th NAASCU Champs - Congratulations

SAN SEBASTIAN COLLEGE ( 86)
Lucernas 19, Alcasabas 18, Basa 16, Villareal 14, Gracilla 7, Antipuesto 6, Escobal 5, Acain 1, Collado 0, Pantonia 0

STI COLLEGE (77)
Mabayo 17, Danganan 14, Ihalas 13, Vasallo 10, Macabasco 7, Aranzaso 5, Crisostomo 4, Mendoza 3, Limpin 2, Sabellina 2,

Quarter scores: 17-19, 36-33, 64-59, 86-77