THE Holy Trinity College (HTC) Wildcats, representing General Santos City, leaned on their heft and size to rip off Southern City Colleges (SCC) of Zamboanga 111-102, in Wednesday's opener of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) 2017 Escandor Cup Mindanao Finals held at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center.
With the win, the Wildcats, who were the 2015 Mindanao Finals champion, took one step closer to their title-retention bid.
LG Omadle sizzled at the paint and finished with game-high 29 points while EJ Dialogo added 14 for the Wildcats that were still playing against Davao City's Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) Crusaders as of this writing.
But head coach Paul Torrijos wasn't much convinced on how his team played as he was expecting more.
"It was an ugly win kasi maraming errors. Nagkataon lang na under size ang Southern Colleges kaya naka-pull away kami," said Torrijos in a post-game interview.
The see-saw affair was witnessed in the first half as both teams uncovered their hidden artilleries prepared for each other.
While the Southern-side relied on their accurate shooting ability, the Wildcats controlled the boards and dominated the paint through their immensity.
But the Wildcats scored relentlessly in the third quarter that left the SCC catching up until the clock finished.
"Mag a-adjust lang kami with our next game and pati na rin sa officiating kasi nanibago kami sa mga tawag ng refs. Madalas kami nakunan ng unsportsman-like fouls," said Torrijos.
SBP Regional Director Glenn Escandor, meanwhile, along with SBP regional commissioner Francis Calatrava and SBP executive program officer Ronel Leuterio presided over the traditional tip off.
Leuterio, in behalf of Escandor, welcomed the teams who came from different provinces of Mindanao while urging each and every one to maintain the core of everything which is discipline.
"In basketball, sometimes you win and sometimes you experience. This league gives you the opportunity to experience so don't waste it because, eventually, years from now, winning will just be like a blur or an afterthought but I guarantee you that the experience you get will be more valuable. This experience is something to be treasured, don’t waste it as it will never come again," Leuterio said in his message to the participants.
The cagefest sanctioned by the SBP is still ongoing at the Davao City Recreation Center.