Baby Tams top Freego Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Far Eastern University made three triples in the payoff period as it rallied to dethrone Hope Christian High School, 69-61, in the FCBL-Freego Cup at the Buddhacare Gym in Quezon City yesterday.

JJ Domingo, Roger Domingo and Kooh Yuk You hit a triple each to spark FEU’s fightback from a 46-50 deficit and the Baby Tams went on to pull off the win in the country’s biggest pre-season tournament for high school for the first time.

Kooh was the game’s biggest revelation as he exploded for 16 points while Roger Domingo and Jeson Delfinado chipped in 12 points each to help the Baby Tams upset the top-seeded Hope Christian side in the tournament presented by Freego and sponsored by Smart.

The Baby Tams, who finished No. 2 in the elims, also drew a solid game from Jerie Pingoy who scored five of his seven points in the final quarter.

Meantime, Mapua outlasted Chang Kai Shek College, 70-66, to finish third in the tournament backed by Hapee Toothpaste, Fruitas Fruit Shake, Nikon Home Appliances, Colt Commercial, Jumbo Plastic Linoleum, Fern-C and Insular Square (Cebu). 

Freego representative Joel Yap and tournament official Horacio Lim presented the trophies to the winners, including the individual winners.

Clint Dolinguez, who paced Hope with 26 points, was named the tournament’s Freego MVP. Aside from Dolinquez, other members of the Mythical First Five are teammate John Apacible, UST’s Von Soriano and Prince Martin and Mapua’s Joshua Serrano.