Red Cubs roar to PSSBC title

MANILA, Philippines – San Beda High School mauled Xavier School, 89-59, on Saturday to capture the 3rd Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship (PSSBC) at the Chiang Kai Shek College Main Gym in Tondo, Manila.

PSSBC MVP Andrei Caracut led the San Beda pack with a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds and spiked with four assists. Chamie Diputado waxed hot from downtown, hitting 3-of-7 triples to finish with 13 markers and six dimes for the Red Cubs.

Norrish Decapia also joined the scoring party with his 12 points, six rebounds and four assists, as Evan Furaque got 10.

"Syempre, masaya kami kasi di rin namin ine-expect ‘to. We treat every game differently as with our other games, so it's a good thing we got the win," said San Beda coach JB Sison.

The Red Cubs uncorked an 8-0 run to start the game, which was answered by Xavier with a 7-0 blast of their own. But that proved to be the last stand of the Golden Stallions as San Beda went on a 17-5 tear to grab a 25-12 first quarter lead and never looked back, leading by as big as 36, 81-45, after a lay-up from Kenneth Alas midway in the payoff period.

Xavier junior guard Tyler Tio led the Golden Stallions with 15 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Caracut, Furaque and Tio were named in this year's Mythical Team along with NU Bullpup Mark Dyke and FEU Baby Tamaraw Marvin Lee.

In the battle for third, NU trumped FEU, 63-59.

Den Ferreras led the Bullpups with 11 points.