MANILA, Philippines – Chiang Kai Shek College completed its giant-killing spree with an 85-82 victory over De La Salle-Zobel to cop the 2015 Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championships (PSSBC) Jumbo Plastic Linoleum Cup at the SGS Gym in Quezon City last Sunday.
A day after dethroning last year’s winner San Beda College, 65-58, Chiang Kai Shek leaned again on Miguel Oczon and Martin Galinato to topple DLS-Zobel and complete its sweep of the week-long tournament presented by Jumbo Plastic Linoleum.
Oczon and Galinato came through with clutch baskets to frustrate the Junior Archers’ repeated rallies with the former drilling in a triple to give the Blue Dragons a 10-point lead, 72-62, at the start of the fourth.
The Junior Archers, coming off a 44-point rout of Hope Christian High School in the semis, actually pulled to within two, 82-84, after two free throws from Martin Romero and gained a crack after forcing a turnover with 19 seconds left in the contest.
But tournament MVP Aljun Melecio bungled a three-pointer with CKS’ Joshua Ramirez securing the rebound to seal the victory for the Blue Dragons.
Chiang Kai Shek thus became the second school from Fil-Chinese Amateur Athletic Federation (FCAAF) to win the “Battle for Champions” title for high school after Hope Christian. Other winners were NCAA teams San Sebastian College two years ago and San Beda College last year.
“Our tough defense in the first half set the tone of the game. Eventually, La Salle found its rhythm but the boys showed composure,” said CKS coach Goldwyn Monteverde.