The Baguio Central University (BCU) Eagles and the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Lady Cavaliers may be out of the running for a 2019 Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League (BBEAL) championship but that didn’t stop them from pulling upsets over their traditionally more favored opponents on Saturday, October 26, 2019.
The Eagles built an early lead against the PMA Cavaliers and thwarted repeated rallies by sinking time outside shots to record their second win of the tournament, 101-95 the final score.
The Eagles led 29-26 after the first and 55-53 at halftime. After a see-saw battle in the third, the Eagles threatened to pull away early in the fourth, establishing a double digit lead, 86-76, 7:38 left in the game.
The Cavaliers then dropped a 8-2 blast in lest than two minutes to bring the lead down to four, 88-84, 5:49 left.
Another see-saw battle ensued in the next two minutes, with the score ringing up to 93-91, 3:05 left.
A three point shot by Razo and two freethrows by Padawag finally sealed it for BCU, who are now up 98-91 with 1:03 remaining in the game.
BCU will have a chance to finish the tournament with one of their finest performances in the tournament as they were scheduled to face the also ran Benguet State University (BSU) Wild Cats, who has yet to win a game, in their next game and the University of the Cordilleras (UC) Jaguars in their final game.
The Eagles are traditionally among the cellar-dwellers in the tournament while the Cavaliers are normally would fighting for a spot in the final four. The Cavaliers are stuck with one win so far this season.
On the other hand, the Lady Cavaliers struck big when they won their first game this year by nipping the Saint Louis University (SLU) Navigators. 52-51, and put a big dent in the Lady Navs’ quest for a silver in the tournament.
The win, however, weren’t as meaningful to the Lady Cavs, who are expected to finish last, than the Lady Navigators.
The Lady Navigators were heavily favored to win this game, as proven by the 40-21 shellacking they gave the PMAers in their first match, and tighten their grip on a second place finish given the Lady Jaguars’ dominance this year.
The loss, however, gives the Lady Navs their fourth loss and allows the University of Baguio (UB) Lady Cardinals a chance to control their destiny.
All the Lady Cardinals would do to finish second is win their last game, although, it would be against these Lady Cavs, who for sure would relish to play spoilers role once again.
By: Armando M. Bolislis
