18/07/2026
Remembering John Vincent (JV) Gallego, who crossed the Great Divide in an auto mishap Saturday early morning.
Gallego is an outstanding Tiong Lian product, having played for the Chiang Kai Shek College team that won the title in the 14-Under Aspirants division in 2012 with a 2-1 finals decision over Xavier School, cutting short the Golden Stallions' nine-year championship reign.
It was the Blue Dragons' first-ever crown in the 14-Under Aspirants division, which was established in 2001.
In the best-of-three Finals, CKSC lost the series opener, 85-77, at the CKSC gymnasium, as Xavier hotshot Christian Tyler Tio knocked in 31 points, negating the efforts of Fran Yu and Gallego, who netted 28 and 23 points, respectively.
CKSC, which was coached by Arsenio Dysangco, equalized in Game Two, 112-71, on Valentine's Day, at the Uno HS gym as five players registered in twin-figure scores - including Gallego, 30, Yu, 21 (including five triples), and Jonas Tibayan, 13. Tio racked up 22 scores.
In the series-deciding Game Three, also at the Uno HS gym, on Feb. 16, the Blue Dragons won all the marbles with an 82-72 triumph over the dethroned Golden Stallions.
Gallego knocked in 21 markers while Yu, saddled with three fouls in the first quarter, was limited to five, all in the first half.
Tio topped Xavier School with 24 points.
The rest is history. Tio made it to Ateneo De Manila in the UAAP and later in the PBA, Yu went to UE, Thailand and returned to Manila to snare three NCAA titles with Colegio de San Juan de Letran and is now active PBA player like Tio.
Tibayan was recently drafted in the PBA.
Gallego, meanwhile, attended college at National University and San Beda College, where he won an NCAA hardware. He suited up in the MPBL as well.
Dysangco is now with the UST coaching staff.
The 2012 Tiong Lian season was memorable for CKSC for the school registered an unprecedented Grand Slam, sweeping the championships in the 14-Under Aspirants, Boys Juniors and Girls High School divisions.
