Lyceum's Bulawan, NCAA 'Sultan of Slam'

MANILA, Philippines – Lyceum's Jebb Bulawan dunked over two teammates to beat St. Benilde's Mustapha Yankie Haruna in the dunk-off and clinch this year's NCAA All-Star slam dunk title at The Arena in San Juan City on Friday.

After ending up tied in the finals, 29-all, Bulawan jumped over fellow Pirates Joseph Gabayni and Shaq Alanes and completed it with a two-handed jam, eliciting three perfect 10s from the judges.

The 22-year-old Sorsogon native then watched Haruna miss three attempts – a between-the-legs dunk off a pass by teammate Travis Jonson to clinch his first ever dunk crown.

"I did this for the school, for my team so that we'll get more attention," said Bulawan, who vowed to join next year to defend his title.

Bulawan's first dunk was on a sitting Gabayni to get 29 by the judges.

But Haruna, who will be eligible next year, jumped over a standing JR Ongteco, a 6-4 St. Benilde teammate to tie Bulawan and force a dunk-off.

In the end, Bulawan's perfect execution sealed it.

"I knew I would need to have a more difficult dunk beat him (Haruna). I'm glad I did," he said.

In the 3-point shootout, Letran's Mark Cruz bested Lyceum's Wilson Baltazar, 18-9, in the finals to win the title.

Cruz, who had a blistering 26 in the elimination round, actually secured the title on the first ball of the third rack after the jump-shooting Baltazar, who had 22 in the prelims, fizzled in the finals.

Lyra Velches, meanwhile, gave Perpetual Help its second Ms. NCAA title after besting all comers.