The Foundation University Greyhounds humbled the Asian College of Science & Technology (ACSAT) Lightnings, 76-67, to win the championship of the 2008 Negros Oriental Governor’s Cup Basketball Tournament Thursday at the Lamberto Macias Sports and Cultural Center here.
The hotly contested championship match was the deciding match of the two top collegiate teams in the province, which both won and lost one game against the other in previous matches.
Students from both schools cheered the teams on as they struggled to untie themselves from the seesaw battle during the first three quarters of the match.
A three-point shot by wingman Rayson Pinili in the fourth quarter led the Greyhounds to break away from the tit-for-tat. Pinili, along with captain ball James Moses Aragones and point guard Romnich Eyas, powered the team to a nine-point win.
"I saw to it that our players would be rotated well so they would not tire easily," said Foundation University coach Glenn Serion, explaining his success on his collegiate coaching debut.
Coach Serion also attributed the Greyhounds victory to the teamwork of teammates power forward Berny Cabando, center Jaylord Lumayag and point guard Nicos Rubio.
Serion said both Cabando and Lumayag outrebounded the Lightnings with their 6′1" and 6′3" frames.
Serion, who has coached Foundation University’s elementary, junior high school 14-and-under and senior high school teams for the last 10 years, has led the University through eight championships.
Aside from the Governor’s Cup, the FU Greyhounds won the recent Dauin Inter-collegiate Basketball tournament, where they defeated leading contender Silliman University Stallions in a knock-out championship game.
FU President Dr. Mira Sinco lauded the Greyhounds for their performance, saying this will boost their chances at the Philippine University Games in Dumaguete City on October 24-30, where FU will play lead host.
With this championship, the Greyhounds and runner-up ACSAT Lightnings, will face the champion of the Bohol Basketball League to choose the regional champion who will represent Region 5 in the selection for the Philippine Collegiate Champions League.
Negros Oriental and Bohol are classified under Region 7.
