THE San Beda Red Cubs now hold the bragging rights as the most successful NCAA junior basketball team.

The Red Cubs broke the game wide open in the second half to repulse CSB-La Salle Greenhills, 69-61, and claim their 19th championship yesterday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

A week after its seniors squad clinched a 16th crown, San Beda  took over from from the Mapua Red Robins (18) as the league’s winningest squad.

“Sarap ng feeling to make history for the school.  We were able to pull thru sa kabila ng maraming ups and downs,” said Red Cubs mentor Britt Reroma.

Aside from winning his second NCAA title, Reroma, who took over from legendary mentor Ato Badolato two years ago, steered San Beda to a ‘three-peat’.

From a close 29-26 halftime lead, the Cubs pulled away, 62-47, after Boden Miranda scored on an alley-oop play.

The Greenies threatened, 57-65, with Jon Villaruz splitting his charities in the last 1:14 but they simply ran out of time.

San Beda advanced to the finals outright after registering a 18-game sweep of the eliminations, but lost to CSB-LSGH in the opener, 85-88.

The Cubs rebounded in Game 2 with a close 74-73 victory.

In his final game for the Greenies, Thomas Torres had 25 points, eight rebounds and five assists. 


The scores:

SBC (69) – Abarcar 18, Nazareno 10, Abatayo 8, Tongco 7, Miranda 6, Patenio 5, Babilonia 4, Bonsubre 4, Tolentino 4, Munsayac 3, Macapayag 0.

CSB (61) – Torres 25, Bonleon 9, Villaruz 8, Yap 7, Barrera 5, Laigo 2, Mercado 2, Vito 2, Ramilo 1, Paras 0, Sta. Clara 0.

QS: 17-13; 29-26; 51-40; 69-61