19 Titles For The Best HS Basketball Team In The Land

The San Beda Red Cubs poured everything in the second half en route to an emphatic 69-61 victory over the De La Salle Greenies yesterday to clinch the 87th National Collegiate Athletic Association of the Philippines juniors championship before a capacity crowd at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The victory completed San Beda’s domination of both the seniors and juniors side, following a Red Lions\' sweep of the Stags last week. The Red Cubs also won their third straight championship, and a record 19th overall, while frustrating the Greenies, who made it to the finals after more than three decades.

Francis Abarcar and Giden Babilonia, son of the late PBA player Gido Babilonia, combined in the third quarter as the Red Cubs outscored the Greenies, 22-14, that pushed the Mendiola-based dribblers for good.

Abarcar, later named as the finals MVP, led the Red Cubs with 18 points, after scoring nine in the fourth, including a trey with only 2:38 left in the contest.

The Red Cubs beat the Greenies for the second time in three days. They prevailed, 74-73, to tie the series.

The Greenies took Game 1, 85-82, two weeks ago at the Araneta Coliseum.

With 19 championships, the Red Cubs surpassed the record of the Mapua Red Robins, who had 18 crowns, in the list of most number of junior titles in the NCAA.

They also now own three twin titles, after winning both the seniors and juniors crowns in 1978 and 2010.

Overall, San Beda has the most basketball championships in the NCAA with 34, 16 in the senior, 19 in the junior division.

source: Daily Tribune