The West Negros University Mustangs grabbed another crown last night when they swept the Visayas regional tournament of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League in Bacolod City .

Playing their best, the Troy Sarabia-mentored Mustangs delivered as they shrugged off a sluggish start to trounce John B. Lacson Maritime Foundation University, 80-69, in the finals before a big crowd at the WNU Gym.

With the victory, the Mustangs claimed their third title this year, after the NOPSSCEA and the LNA7 Open Basketball Tournament, where they beat a star-studded Ticel-Vladimir Gonzales squad.

The Mustangs overcame a cagey first quarter and finished strong in the second and third periods to beat the erstwhile undefeated Dolphins, who won three games in a row to reach the finals.

“We kept our focus and stayed together because we know they are a very tough team to beat,” said coach Troy Sarabia, whose squad beat Western Leyte College , 122-72, in the semifinals yesterday morning.

“It will take a lot of effort from us to make the Sweet 16, but games like this prepare us for that challenge,” added Sarabia, who expressed gratitude to the university administration, including WNU president Suzette Agustin, for its all-out support to the team.

The Mustangs, who captured an 11th straight NOPSSCEA crown last week, move on to the zonal qualifying phase in Cebu set Nov. 6 to 8.

“We thank God for this victory,” said Mustangs manager Tony Agustin, who is also WNU sports director.

“This win is a testament of our teamwork. Qualifying for the Sweet 16 is our target. But preparing for such a difficult tournament is very important and I am hoping that the coaching staff and the players respond to the challenge.”

It will be an uphill climb for the Mustangs as they slug it out with Adamson, Arellano University , San Sebastian Cavite, Holy Trinity College of Davao and the second to fourth placers of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation for the four places to the Sweet 16 in Manila .

With the Dolphins opting for a more physical approach, the Mustangs used their speed to blow the game wide open in the second half.

The Mustangs also tightened up their defense in the second half to silence the Dolphins, who advanced to the finals via a 103-57 blowout of Bohol Institute of Technology.

Versatile big man Raul Suyod, showing remarkable improvement after sitting out last year, came off the bench to score 15 points, including 10 in the second period.

With the game tied at 30, the 6-foot-4 Suyod caused all sorts of problems for the Dolphins, scoring six in a 10-2 blast to close the second quarter.

The Mustangs came out with a spring in their step in the third period with Alfie Villariza and Jeff Jacinto scoring consecutive baskets as WNU slowly pulled away, 54-43.

A fastbreak lay-up by Virgilio Dapar off an assist by Villariza gave the Mustangs their biggest lead yet at 63-45 with 16 seconds left in the period.

The Dolphins threatened at 61-75 on a triple by Edwin Peremne with 3:20 remaining, but Jacinto's long triple restored order for the Mustangs.

The crafty Villariza registered a game-high 19 points, after exploding for 25 in the semifinal victory over WLC. Jacinto posted 4 points, with six coming from beyond the arc.

Briton Javelona, Rolly Jaca and Jacinto took turns in limiting the effectiveness of Dolphins' chief gunner Peremne. The JBLMFU forward still finished with 17 points, but most of them came when the outcome was already settled.

Ken Ferrariz and David Torbeso contributed 16 for the Dolphins, who emerged champion in the Iloilo PRISAA.

On their way to the finals, the Mustangs also beat Leyte Colleges 101-53, and BIT, 109-53.*

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