13 December 2012, 3:07 p.m. – THE FACULTY of Arts and Letters (AB) turned back two-time champion Faculty of Engineering, 79-57, to claim the Thomasian Goodwill Games men’s basketball title at the Quadricentennial Pavilion Wednesday afternoon.
Legal Management senior Jay Pascual, who was crowned as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, sealed the deal for AB by capping a 9-2 run in the final quarter to bury Engineering for good.
The Artlets, who last won the championship in 2007, outscored Engineering in the third quarter to erect a 19-point advantage, 59-40, heading into the final frame.
“This championship is overdue kasi na-upset kami last year,” AB coach Noy Crisostomo said. “Since July nagpa-practice na kami so talagang pinaghandaan namin to.”
Pascual and Stacey Balagtas led the AB scorers with 14 points apiece, while Jason Anderson paced Engineering with 10 markers.
Champs for the second time
In women’s play, the College of Commerce pulled off a come-from-behind victory over the AB, 71-68, in game two of their best-of-three finals series to bag its second-straight championship.
Commerce clawed its way back from a 20-point hole in the first half to tie the count at 64-all and forge an extra period.
Newly-minted MVP Tin Rala took charge in the extra period, scoring four points punctuated by a coast-to-coast layup to put Commerce ahead by four, 70-66, with 2:18 left.
“We maintained our momentum from the fourth quarter to overtime,” Commerce coach Mark Laouie said. “It was the team’s hardwork that won us this championship.”
Karen Liwanag chipped in 16 points for Commerce while Gemma Retuba topscored for AB with 19 markers. Jose Antonio R. Nisay
