BJ SUMUGAT lifted Assumption College of Davao (ACD) Warriors past Jose Maria College (JMC) Kings 72-70, in the resumption of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP)-sanctioned 4th Escandor Cup Inter-High School Basketball Tournament Saturday, April 8, at the Gold Star Gym in Barrio Obrero, Davao City.
Sumugat struggled in the first three periods but provided the much needed spark in the pay-off period, finishing with 14 points including the game-winning three-pointer in the final 1.3 seconds.
Arnold Heje canned 13 points while AJ Royo added 10 for the Warriors who stretched their unbeaten record to 4-0.
Stephon Steinl, who was suspended in the past two games after committing a deliberate foul against Atenen Joshua Barrientos in the opener, staged a huge comeback, drilling in 25 points for the Kings who absorbed their first defeat in the league.
ACD coach Tristan Ruzer Balino, in an interview with VoxPop Davao, said he gave all the credit to the players.
"The game plan was to give BJ the ball and let him go hard to the basket. But all the players are clogging the baseline area which made us gamble to take the three-point shot," Balino said in vernacular.
He recalled that they were up by 10 points in the first five minutes of the final frame, but Stephon Steinl was too strong to be contained, thus, the Warriors collapsed their defense and lost the double digit lead.
Sumugat, for his part, said it left him no choice but to take the shot seeing the time almost expired.
"I was confident to take the open shot," Sumugat said, adding that they will focus more in the next game as they will collide against arch-rival Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) Blue Knights at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, April 9.
In another game, AdDU routed Philippine Women’s College, 113-40.
Games were still being played as of Saturday.
Defending champion Holy Child College of Davao was pitted against Agro Industrial Foundation College while Emar Human was set to collide with the Emar Human Environmental College.