MGC-NLCA bags PCYAA crown

MANILA, Philippines - Makati Gospel Church-New Life Christian Academy hacked out a 60-49 victory over Saint Jude Catholic School in their knockout match to capture the boys’ Juniors title in the fourth Philippine Ching Yuen Athletic Association high school basketball tournament at the Uno High School gym recently.

The New Lifers, who won five of the 10 events in the league’s sports calendar this season, took the final series opener, 88-84 in double overtime, but the Judenites equalized with a 69-65 win in Game 2.

MGC-NLCA actually struggled in the early going in sudden death, enabling SJCS to take a 16-12 edge but the Taguig City-based school countered with a 9-0 run to wrest control at 21-16. 

The New Lifers held sway from there, racing to as many as 17 points, 55-38, with 5:36 to go in the final game of the six-week tournament supported by Spalding, Pro Line, Octoboy and Summit Water.

Carl Ong posted a double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds for MGC-NLCA, which also drew double-figure scores from Cedric Ho, 14, and Ike Lim, 11. 

Saint Jude Catholic School, which has been into the finals every year since the PCYAA opened shop in 2013-14, was bannered by Mallechi Lim with 15 points and Maynard Yap, who completed his PCYAA eligibility with 10 points, 11 boards and three blocks.