SSC-Cavite completes mission in 2009 NAASCU caging

With their mission of successfully defending the NAASCU men’s basketball crown this year, San Sebastian College-Cavite coach Edgar Macaraya is already thinking of winning a third straight title next season.

“Mission accomplished," said SSC-Cavite coach Macaraya, who was also named as NAASCU’s coach of the year, after the Baycats’ 98-91 overtime win over University of Manila Monday night at the Cuneta Astrodome. “I really had no doubts in my mind that this team is capable of winning a second straight title. My worry was that we may have peaked too soon but the players showed their championship poised which was evident in this game," added Macaraya who once played with Hapee Toothpaste in the Philippine Basketball League. “I hope we can complete a three-peat next year. But I admit it will be difficult since we will be losing (Kris) Lucernas, (Jhun) Gracilla, (Sam) Basa and Lito Escobal to graduation. We will start from scratch but we will give it our best shot." San Sebastian, which squandered a 13-point spread midway in the fourth (79-66), leaned on veterans Gracilla and Lucernas in overtime as the Baycats completed their sweep of the Hawks in the best-of-three title series. Gracilla finished with 24 points, five rebounds and five assists while Lucernas added 22 points, seven rebounds and blocked two shots. They teamed up in overtime scoring nine of the Baycats’ 15 points in the extra period. Macaraya’s Baycats compiled a 20-2 record this season. Rookie Alvin Viernes fired a season high 35 points while John Matubang and JR Manuel added 27 and 14 each for the former five-time champions Hawks. – GMANews.TV