The Far Eastern University-Diliman, a heavyweight squad in the local collegiate league, gave newbie Holy Trinity Academy a neat lesson in basketball, pulling off a 104-56 win on Wednesday to claim the NCR leg title in the inaugural National Basketball Championships (NBC) Inter-High at the Amoranto Arena in Quezon City.
The reigning UAAP junior champion, the Baby Tamaraws built an early double-digit margin and never gave their rivals any chance with their dominating defense and fluid offense as they joined Pampanga leg champion Pampanga College and Bulacan titlist La Consolacion University for the North Luzon championship.
Scheduled knockout leg series are already in the program for the Nueva Ecija, Ilocos, Pangasinan, and Cagayan slated in December.
Meantime, action in South Luzon starts today with the Cavite leg at the Bacoor Coliseum. Eight participating private schools will try to outplay each other for the opportunity to represent Cavite in the South Luzon championship.
Wilhalm Cabonilas poured in 19 points in leading FEU's assault against the hapless rivals -- a first-timer in an inter-school tournament. Francis Pre and J. Mecha added 17 and 15 points respectively.
"It's a good game, very interesting match, nakita naman ninyo at talagang lumaban. We're much superior by papers, pero hindi namin yan tinitignan kahit sino and kalaro namin, walang relax, laruin kung ano and inensayo," said FEU coach All Albano, referring to his team, mostly remnant of the last year's championship squad in the UAAP.
"Maganda and ganitong liga dahil nae-expose sa mataas na level ng basketball competition and mga schools. Mensahe ko sa kanila, never gave up, Magpurside sa training at di magtatagal lalakas and mga yan," added Albano.
Ar-Jay Tobias led Holy Trinity with a double-double performance --19 points and 19 rebounds -- while Mark Jagonoy and Erick Cardaño scored 17 and 15 points.
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