By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts ruled the 2nd Ben Lo Memorial Cup following a 77-68 triumph over Xavier University of Manila at the Po Hang Gym of the Bacolod Tay Tung High School (BTTHS).

Paul Barcelona showed the way with 24 points to go with five rebounds and three assists to lead the way for the Thunderbolts.

He was later adjudged as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Pete Barcelona, Paul’s father, narrated that his son was supposed to sat out the tournament as he came from leading the Thunderbolts to UNBL 17-and-under 3rd Chairman’s Cup Negros championship last week.

“Actually, Paul should have sat this one out because kagagaling niya lang sa UNBL tournament, but I asked him to reconsider playing in Ben Lo Cup,” Pete said in an interview with Watchmen Daily Journal.

“Boss Ben was my long-time manager during my playing days in Bacolod Tay Tung High School. It is just so fitting that, after 25 years, it was my son who is playing in honor of him,” he added.

Bacolod Tay Tung wrapped up the eliminations with a 5-0 record, beating St. John Institute-Bacolod Baby Falcons, Trinity Christian School, Chiang Kai Shek College of Manila, Kong Hua School of Cagayan de Oro, and Xavier School of Manila.

The Thunderbolts prevailed over Chiang Kai Shek, 88-68, in the semifinals round, while Xavier University reached the championship game with an 84-76 triumph over St. John’s Institute.

On the other hand, St. John’s Institute salvaged a bronze medal finish after a 59-53 victory over Chiang Kai Shek.

Ryton Celis finished with a double-double of 20 points and 18 rebounds in the win.

The 2nd Ben Lo Memorial Cup is in honor of the late sports patron Benjamin Lo, a member of the BTTHS Board of Trustees and the school’s former alumni president.

Lo is a former sports development chairman of BTTHS and established the BTTHS Sports Development Trust Fund.

Moreover, he also initiated the construction of the BTTHS covered court./ASC, WDJ