An explosive third quarter rally led by Josue Segumpan and Renz Solomon erased a 15-point deficit and carried the West Negros University junior Mustangs to a 91-82 victory to wrestle the crown from defending champion St. John Institute in the final game of the 2011 NOPSSCEA high school boys’ basketball at the WNU Gym yesterday.

Not even the 45-point outburst from SJI’s Kib Montalbo, who played his first year for the Falcons this season, can stop the young Mustangs from completing a second half salvo that saw Segumpan delivering 17 points in the third quarter to almost single-handedly outscore the whole SJI Falcons, who finished the quarter with 18 points.

Trailing by six points, 49-58, in the third quarter, the Mustangs got a lift from Solomon, who scored a jumper and a trey to cut down the deficit to three points with 5:02 left in the quarter.

John Daniel Javelosa converted two free throws and Segumpan hit another two points in the ensuing play as the junior Mustangs secure the lead at 59-58, with 2:49 remaining in the clock.

The Falcons tried to get back the lead as Montalbo got help from Carlo Sian as both tried to plug the holes on SJI’s offense, but the Mustangs were well on their way to close the quarter with a six-point lead, 70-64.

“This is a blessing for the team as the boys really played well. They kept their focus even when we’re down by nine points at halftime,” WNU coach Jack Tumayan said.

“It was the breaks of the game in the third quarter. The momentum shifted on WNU’s side and we were not able to stop them,” coach Dexter Dy of SJI countered.

He also cited the major adjustments the young Mustangs made after SJI whipped them up in their first encounter in the eliminations.

“The two-week break since the two teams clashed really strengthened them,” Dy added.

But while the Mustangs celebrated their hard-won victory, some Falcon supporters lamented the homecourt advantage of the Mustangs. There were suggestions to play the championship round in a best-of-three series and open the venue to other competing schools.

NOPSSCEA basketball tournament manager and WNU sports director Tony Agustin acknowledged the side comments but stressed that every team was given fair a treatment.

“We had a good game. It’s hard to accept that only one team will win and the other loses,” Agustin.

Segumpan led the victorious junior Mustangs with 22 points while Solomon finished with 18 and Javelosa, 16 points. Kraniel Veloria added 13, Miguel Guirnela and Kevin Parra with 6 points each, and Scoth Heria, 4 points.

Zoey Pandan backed up Montabo for SJI with 15 points, while Sian tallied 11, Emilio Japzon, with 4 points, EJ De Leon and Leyland Dusaban with 3 points each.*NAB

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