Red Robin Lugo Shines as Bullpups-Powered NCR Dethrones Central Visayas in Early Finale Rematch

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The NU Bullpups may have made up the core of the NCR team playing in the secondary boys basketball competition of this year's Palarong Pambansa, but a Malayan High School Red Robin stepped up for the Big City right when it needed the most.

Noah Lugo provided the clutch leadership for NU-NCR as the team made Sacred Heart-Central Visayas relinquish its championship won last year in the semifinal round of the basketball games at the San Luis Sports Complex in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

Lugo kept the Magis Eagles-loaded squad at bay in the final moments of the match after the latter cut NCR's 13-point late third quarter lead to just three midway through the fourth.

He dished out crucial assists to fellow Red Robin Justin Serrano and NU standouts John Cauilan and Manuel Mosqueda, grabbed a crucial steal with 30 seconds left, and sank three free throws in the end to seal the 90-80 win.


Lugo had 18 points and six assists, while Cauilan and Mosqueda made 20 and 19 points respectively for Team NCR.

Giovanni Laguyo led Sacred Heart-Central Visayas with 22 points and eight assists, but he missed two crucial free throws and gave up a turnover at the clutch.

Zachy Huang, who ignited the Magis Eagles' rally in the fourth canto, added 14 points and 16 rebounds, but he missed the remaining 5:31 of the game due to fouling out.

The Bullpups avenged the loss of the then San Sebastian Staglets-loaded team's loss at the championship game last year against the very same Magis Eagles-led Central Visayan squad in Dumaguete.

On how NU-NCR escaped with the win, Coach Jeff Napa said that the team kept its rhythm in the end. About the preparations for tomorrow's championship game against the winner of the San Beda-CALABARZON and Hua Siong-Western Visayas game, which is ongoing as of press time , he said that there will be more adjustments.


Box Scores:

NCR 90-Mosqueda 20, Cauilan 19, Lugo 18, Serrano 13, Go 6, Battad 5, Lopeña 3, Castillo 2, Ejercito 2, Lim 2, Dandan 0

Central Visayas 80-Lagoyo 22, Huang 14, Mantua 12, Ecarma 11, Igna 8, Ortega 7, Galinato 6, Jaboneta 0, Ong 0, Navarro 0

Quarterscores: 20-12, 30-23, 67-54, 90-80

Notes: Game ended at 1:00 PM. Published the news at around 1:50 PM


Contributed by: Ivan Stewart Saldajeno

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