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Appolon leads Imhotep over Freire

It's not too often a Public League player can walk away from a regular-season game with a new hunk of hardware.

It's not too often a Public League player can walk away from a regular-season game with a new hunk of hardware.

But when Imhotep yesterday bested Freire, 65-45, in a battle of Division C charters, the site was Philadelphia University and the occasion was a showcase event.

As for Imhotep's MVP trophy . . . It went to David Appolon, a 6-4, 180-pound combination guard whose next stop will be Robert Morris.

"It's the same size as my niece, Alia," Appolon cracked. "She'll be 2 [this Thursday]. It comes up to my knee."

Appolon earned the honor for collecting 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and four steals. He shot 7-for-14 (one trey) and 1-for-2 and six of his markers came in a 22-12 fourth quarter.

"I had a sense I might be getting the trophy because I did make some nice plays late," Appolon said. "But if somebody else had gotten it, no problem.

"We didn't start off as good as we could have. It was like we were thinking, I guess, that Freire was one of those lacks-something opponents. They came out pretty strong and we had to get it together. We could have played better, but the important thing is getting the win, whether it's by two or 30. All the same to me."

On second thought . . .

"We do have to watch it. I mean, what if we're only up two late in the championship game and somebody hits a shot to leave us crying?"

The Panthers have won the last two Pub titles and are heavily favored to become the first three-in-a-row kingpin since West Philadelphia stormed to five from 1974 to '78.

Coach Andre Noble has all five starters back and two more aside from Appolon are also D-1 signees. Ameen Tanksley (Niagara) had 13 points. Erik Copes (George Washington) mixed 11 points, nine rebounds and four blocks. For Freire, Carlton Wright hit three treys en route to 20 points.

Imhotep's point guard, mostly, is Terrell Johnson.

"When we're getting to halfcourt, sometimes he'll just leave the ball for me," Appolon said. "I'm still more of a wing, and that's how Robert Morris sees me, but I like doing some point work, too. It gives the opponent more to think about."

Appolon, who lives near 5th and Godfrey, plans to major in sports management. What he did in the fourth quarter, meanwhile, was take control.

"I couldn't play that sit-back, relaxed style," he said. "They weren't playing me too much, so I decided not to settle for jump shots. Before that one play that got me going - a drive with a reverse layup - my personal mentor, coach Warren [Greene, former star at Thomas Edison], was telling me to attack. I did and it worked, so I kept doing it."

Much to Alia's delight.

"She finally has something she can look right in the eye," Appolon quipped.