BAGUIO CITY- After suffering a loss to Mabini Elementary School, the Saint Louis School Center (SLSC) basketeers had their redemption in their 19’s match up against the University of Baguio Laboratory Elementary School (UBLES) by squeaking a 31-28 victory for their second win in the elimination round.
It was not an easy game for the Saints with the bombardment they received in the first canto of play as UBLES controlled the game tempo with an 11-5 blast to end the first quarter. Continuously, UBLES made their run extend in the second canto, firing a 12-6 blast that catapulted the team to lead to 12 at halftime, 23-11, making the cheering UBLES crowd on their feet.
The red shirts seem to be assured to win at the third, however, with a change of tide for the Saints as they started to find the hoop to chip of the lead to ten points at the end of the third, 26-16. On cue, the Saints start the fourth canto with dramatically intensified defense to take control the game and succeeded as they forced UBLES with countless turnovers that resulted to good offensive plays.
With continuous conversions from the field, the Saints finally tied the score at 26-all in the dying minutes of the fourth canto. The Saints gave back the lead due to three fouls resulting to two conversion in the fifteen foot line by UBLES, 26-28, however, came charging back with a three point field goal to retook it 29-28. After a change of possession, the red shirts gave out a foul to send the Saints to the line to end the game with two conversions.
Meanwhile, UCGSHS also bag their match up against BCNHS in the high school division, 91-88. They led the first with a 20-11 run. Finding their mark on the hoop, the Jaguars had a shooting spree in the second canto to catapult their lead to 14 at the end of the first half, 47-33.
Third quarter action saw BCNHS intensifying their defensive and offensive strategies and post a 27-16 run that gutted the jaguars to an awkward position. After a deadlock in the dying minute of the third, 59-all, BCNHS grabbed the lead by a field goal in the dying seconds 61-60. The Jaguars, however, recovered with conversions of their own to beat the buzzer in the third canto and retake the driver’s seat 63-61.
BCNHS came more intensified, both teams equalling each other’s conversions in the field. As the game ensued, it was anybody’s ball game at 83-83 going to the last minute of play. BCNHS moved ahead with a three point field goal, 86-85. The Jaguars retaliated with their own triple, 88-86, with a few tics to go. After BCNHS equalized the score at 88-all, a surprise Jaguar three pointer beat the clock to end of the fourth quarter of play.
By: BOBBY VINLUAN