LEGAZPI, Albay—Cagers from the Southern Tagalog Region struck gold in the ballgames to share the top honors with the National Capital Region bets in the final of the 2016 Palarong Pambansa here.
The San Beda Red Cubs of Taytay, Rizal drew strength from their outside shooting and run-and-gun game to swamp the Central Luzon selection, 92-72, in the secondary boys basketball finals at the Ibalong Centrum Recreation gymnasium.
Team captain Sam Abu Hijleh scored 16 points for the Red Cubs, who went on to hand Region IV-A their fourth secondary cage crown in seven years.
A selection of cagers from Quezon, Cavite and Batangas, meanwhi8lke, took the top honors in the elementary boys basketball side following a 74-65 victory over the NCR bets 74-65.
But the Big City bets were not be denied their share of the honor as its women’s secondary team thrashed the Negros Island Region, 80-68, for the crown
Overall, NCR capped its campaign with 104 golds, 46 silvers and 47 bronze medals, while Region IV-A placed second (38-43-59), with Western Visayas in close third (35-35-39) and with Central Visayas in fourth (29-31-29).
In the secondary division, NCR had 68 golds, 32 silvers and 29 bronzes, while Region IV-A finished behind (23-26-37).
Germy Mahinay scored 12 points for NCR, while Joshua Tagala added 13, including one of two treys in the third as they moved out of reach, 59-42.
Evan Nelle, who bagged the MVP honors, delivered 12 points, with his triple in first period allowing NCR to pull away, 11-8.
“This is a redemption for us. We did not make the finals last year. The boys who played back then are here again. Ramdam nila iyung pagkatalo last year. Ramdam din nila ang pagkapanalo this year,” said NCR coach JB Sison.
Ry de la Rosa had 11 points, with two triples at the end of the first canto giving NCR a 20-15 edge.
The Central Luzon squad on had eight players in their rotation, and NCR began moving away by 11, 26-15, in the second period, and as soon as the Region 3 cagers began tiring out.
As coach Allan Trinidad finally walked out of the team in the second half, and left the team in the hands of his assistant, Felix Dimatulac, the Region 3 team just fell apart, and fell behind by as much as 29 points, 71-42, with 2:38 left in the third.
In secondary boys football, NCR outplayed Central Visayas, 2-1, in a fight-marred contest at the Bicol University-Albay Sports and Tourism Complex turf.
Davao Region won over Western Visayas, 1-0, in the elementary action.
In baseball, NCR eked out five runs in the third inning to beat Southern Tagalog Region, 8-3, to claim a three-peat.
In volleyball, NCR kept the secondary girls crown for a second straight year after Ella de la Torre-led Metro Manila squad took four sets to get past Region IV-A, 25-23, 14-25, 25-22, 25-21 at the Bicol College court.