THE Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) Region 1 basketball selection team bagged the Panagbenga First Invitational Basketball Championship last March 18 at the Saint Louis University Gym in Baguio City, beating powerhouse Benguet Electric Corporation in the winner take-all match with the scoreboard closing at 103-96.

The PRISAA selection of Lyceum-Northwestern University president Gonzalo Duque controlled the tempo of the game right from the opening buzzer, grabbing the upper hand early but had to contend with the hard fighting Benguet-based cagers inside the game.

But PRISAA head coach Renato ‘Jackal’ Vidal devised a defense strategy that held down the opponent’s inside game even as hotshot Rod Natavio connected from al most all angles with his dreaded three-point shots and bull strong Jenkins Bucao controlled the middle along with Christopher Sagun, Leonel Razon and team captain Albert Carcha.

BENECO tried to make a last ditch effort to win the championship but the Dagupan-based varsitarians refused to fold and won the game with plenty to spare.

Rod Natavio of the University of Luzon was adjudged Most Valuable Player in the open division while skipper Albert Carcha of the University of Pangasinan named part of the mythical five.

The selection topped the round robin elimination but had to scramble pasty Cordillera Career Development College in the cross-over semi final after losing their first game and had to win by the slimmest margin in the deciding game.

The participation of the PRISAA selection composed of players from UL, UPang and LNU in the prestigious tournament was in preparation for the team’s participation to the National PRISAA meet slated April 15 to 25, said team manager Arthur Tangco.

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