NATIONAL University and La Salle Greenhills forged a title match in the 7th Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship Rain or Shine Cup by downing their respective semis rivals on Wednesday at the SGS gym in Quezon City.
The NU Bullpups, who topped the first round elims of the UAAP with a 7-1 record, scored 30 in the second quarter en route to an 89-78 win over the San Beda Red Cubs.
The Greenies earned their first final appearance in the PSSBC with a 72-66 win over the Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws.
“It’s UAAP versus NCAA so I’m sure it’s going to be an exciting finale,” said league chairman Terry Que of Rain or Shine. “No wonder NU is doing well in the UAAP while La Salle has lived up to its status as one of the premier high school teams in the country.”
In denying San Beda a second straight and fourth overall final appearance, NU leaned on the splendid performance of Cyril Rey Gonzales.
Toughened by team’s successful title conquest in the ASEAN School Games last August, Gonzales led all NU scorers with 22 points aside from posting five boards, three assists and three steals in 30 minutes of action.
Center Karl Kevin Quiambao, the hero in the team’s pulsating 76-75 win over the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs in the quarterfinals, had 14 points and 19 boards as the Bulldogs took a 53-31 lead at the half.
The champion team gets P50,000 while the runner-up receives P30,000 in the tournament also backed by Poly Gloss, Freego, Dickies Underwear, Hapee Toothepaste, IronCon Builders, MEC Networks, Blackwater Sports and Che’Lu Bar and Grill.