Green Hawks, Mustangs, Baybay I Central School overall champs in OCCCI D-League basketball tourney

St. Joseph College of Maasin (SJC) Green Hawks pose for a group photo at center court in Ormoc Superdome during the awarding ceremony of the OCCCI D-League Interschool Basketball Tournament : Battle of the Best. | Photo from OCCCI D-League

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The St. Joseph College of Maasin (SJC) Green Hawks,  Western Leyte College (WLC) of Ormoc Mustangs, and Baybay I Central School were hailed the maiden overall champions in the OCCCI D-League Interschool Basketball Tournament after defeating their respective opponents in the “Battle of the Best” on Sunday evening at the Ormoc City Superdome. 

The OCCCI D-League, which has been created to provide exposure to schools in Leyte Island, officially capped off on Sunday evening. 

READ: Green Hawks, Baybay SHS off to a 3-0 start of south division hoops competition 

Green Hawks upset Mustangs

Over a hundred schools from elementary, high school, and college around Leyte Island competed in the two-month basketball tournament, which drew some inspiration from Cebu’s Cesafi and Manila’s UAAP. 

After the dust has settled down, the SJC Green Hawks upset the heavily-favored WLC Mustangs, 75-71, in the college division winner-take-all championship match.

CJ Gonzales led the Green Hawks with 15 points, including a crucial three-pointer that gave his team the much-needed cushion to hang on until the final buzzer. Gonzales went on to become the college division “Most Valuable Player,” earning a P3,000 purse.

Meanwhile, the Green Hawks pocketed a P50,000 purse, while the Mustangs didn’t go home empty-handed as they received a P20,000 cash prize as the runners-up. 

READ: Ormoc City Senior High School rules OCCCI D-League West Leyte Division

The Western Leyte College (WLC) of Ormoc Mustangs players celebrate as they receive their prize for winning the top spot in the high school division of the OCCCI D-League Interschool Basketball Tournament : Battle of the Best. | Photo from OCCCI D-League

Mustangs bag high school title

Despite the loss in the college division, the Mustangs’ emerged champions in the high school division by routing Ormoc City Senior High School (OCSHS) 70-54 in the championship match. 

Rile Christian Veloso was named MVP after leading the Mustangs with 15 points, 6 boards, and 3 blocks. The Mustangs received P60,000, while the OCSHS pocketed P30,000. 

Elementary division champs

On the other hand, Baybay I Central School topped the elementary division by narrowly beating San Juan Elementary School 46-42. 

Darnyl Loreto hoisted the finals MVP plum after leading Baybay I Central School with 17 points and 18 rebounds. Baybay went home with P25,000 cash, while San Juan received P10,000. 

Baybay I Central School team is the champion in the elementary division of the OCCCI D-League Interschool Basketball Tournament : Battle of the Best. | Photo from OCCCI D-League

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