ADNU Golden Knights: Back to Back Champions in the Inter Collegiate Basketball Games

The Ateneo de Naga University made history by being the first back to back champions of the Naga City Charter Anniversary Inter Collegiate Basketball Championship.  They won against their perennial basketball rival - University of Nueva Caceres Greyhounds. The final box score was 74-48.

The game last October 14, 2007 was tight in the first half with both schools producing their own scoring spurts. The first quarter saw the Greyhounds outscoring the Golden Knights 13 to 10. The second quarter witnessed the Ateneans firing back to finish the second half leading 28 to 26.

Led by Jan Bequillo (BS ECE 5), Julius Vargas (BSBA CMA 4) and Joshua Tisoy (BS CoE 5), the Golden Knights broke away from a mere 2-point lead in the first half, to a 26-point lead during the third quarter. With choking defense coupled by their explosive running game, the Knights took control of the game on the third quarter and never looked back. UNC managed only to score four points in the third quarter - all coming from the free throw line. 

The Ateneo crowd, the team’s self-declared “sixth man”, was a big factor in the series. This was one area that UNC cannot match up against. The cheer and support brought by Ateneo community – the administrators, teachers, staff, students, parents and alumni was a turning point inthe series.  In the third and pivotal game, the jam-packed Naga City Gymwitnessed the “sixth man” rising to its feet and no longer sitting down during the entire second half up to the end of the game. The crowd simply lived out one of the longest and proudest lines in Ateneo de Naga’s history, “We’ll cheer our men unto the end, we’ll cheer them as they fight.”

Jan Bequillo was adjudged the MVP of the Finals series. He was joined by Julius Vargasin the Mythical Five selection. Joshua Tisoy, although not receiving any individual award, was recognized by many as the vital cog in the series. What Bequillo and Vargas did in offense, Tisoy complemented in defense with steals, blocks and the extreme passion to win.