St. Francis trips San Lorenzo, rules UCLAA

FOUR-TIME champion St. Francis of Assisi College survived the biggest threat to its long-running dominance by edging Colegio de San Lorenzo, 64-63, on the way to sweeping the best-of-three finals of the 5th UCLAA basketball championship at San Andres gym during the weekend.

St. Francis, which breezed through Game 1, 67-56, needed every bit of Noy Bermudes’ 15 points and the late-game heroics of Richmund Sun- ga to avert a knockout match for the title.

Sunga, the target of the San Lorenzo defense all night long, gave his defenders the slip and buried a triple in the closing seconds that forged the final score. St. Francis then watched San Lorenzo miss two chances to turn the game around before celebrating the championship conquest.

“The players truly worked hard and really wanted this championship. But credit goes to San Lorenzo as well for they are worthy competitors,” said St. Francis coach Gabby Velasco, who thanked the SFAC community, led by Dr. Arturo Orosco Jr. and team manager Gigi Prats, for their support.

Sunga was adjudged Most Valuable Player while Clark Quijano of junior champion AMA Computer College was named high school MVP.

Joining Sunga in the seniors Mythical team were St. Francis teammate Reynold Parico, Juan Carlos Foronda of San Lorenzo, Jefferson Arceo of AMACU and Paul Soleta of Diliman Computer Technology Institute.

Named to the high school Mythical team after Quijano were AMACU teammate Jason Well David, Erwin Balatucan of National College of Business and Arts, John Mykel Ambrosio of Philippine Christian University and Paolo Formento of St. Francis.