Compostela NHS bags title of NBTC-North Cebu leg

CEBU, Philippines —  The promising cagers of Compostela National High School outlasted their rivals from Carmen NHS via a 78-69 decision in their sudden-death final match to clinch the title of the first ever Northern Cebu leg of the 13th Chooks-to-Go SM National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) League over the weekend at the D.M. Reynes gymnasium in Compostela, Cebu.

Compostela barged into the championship after annihilating Lataban NHS of Liloan, 96-69, while Carmen NHS booked the other final ticket after wiping out Rosemont Hills Montessori College, 89-60.

In the knockout finale, Compostela was in complete control from the get go, never looking back after racing to an 18-11 start.

Compostela sustained its momentum in the second period to mount a 13-point advantage at haltime, 36-23.

Compostela protected its double-digit lead after three quarters, 56-45, when neutralized Carmen’s offense in the closing minutes of the contest to walk away with a nine-point victory.

John Michael Pilapil, who was honored as SM NBTC’s Most Outstanding Player for Northern Cebu, topscored for Compostela with 14 points followed by Joseph Wagas with 12 markers.

For topping the five-day tilt backed up by SM, Chooks-to-Go, Vivo, Smart, Darlington-Exped, SBP, Phoenix, Go for Gold, Molten, Gatorade, ESPN5, Cignal and Compostela LGU under the leadership of Mayor Froilan Quiño, Compostela NHS earned the right to represent Northern Cebu to the SM NBTC League Regional Finals next year in Bohol.

The league ended up on a successful note behind the supervision of commissioner Ruben “Junjun” Nelmida Patotoy Jr. as well as the support of Prospero Lahoylahoy Jr., Nars Canoog, Jhanyl Arcenio and all the coaches of participating schools.