SBC Alabang gains in NC South

MANILA, Philippines - San Beda College Alabang rode on a big third quarter run to blast San Pablo College, 83-51, at the start of the 13th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) South at the SBCA Sports Complex in Alabang recently.

The Alabang Red Lions went on a 14-4 run spiked by James Panaligan’s back-to-back triples as they raced to a 51-32 bulge and never looked back in a big start in the seniors basketball tournament.

Panaligan topscored for the hosts with 17 points while Kevin Mangutac and Reynaldo Estanislao chipped in 16 and 12 points, respectively.

Art Baldonado and Aris Artillaga led SPC with 11 points each.

Earlier, Muntinlupa Mayor Aldrin San Pedro and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios graced colorful inaugural rites featuring 10 schools in the event supported by Chocolate Clothing, Philips Avent, Goody and Chefs Classics.

The other member schools are First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities of Tanauan, Batangas, Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Calamba, De La Salle Lipa, Lyceum University-Batangas, Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas, San Pablo Colleges-San Pablo, University of Perpetual Help-Laguna, Don Bosco Technical Colleges-Mandaluyong and league newcomer University of Batangas.

“This turnout shows that collegiate sports is very much alive south of Metro Manila,” said Dom Clement Ma. Roque, SBCA rector-president and NCAA South policy board chair.

San Pedro also exhorted the participants to do well in the competition while upholding the league’s 13th season theme of “Nation Building Through Sports.”

Easily the top attraction of the program were the SBCA school boys who came out dressed as little Red Indian Warriors to enact San Beda’s famous Indian yell, which drew the loudest cheers and applause at the packed SBCA gym.