THIS year’s rivalry in Cagayan de Oro Best Center Twin Basketball Tournament appeared to be much stronger with reigning champions Bukidnon Faith Christian School Inc. already out in title-contention in both the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and Pasarelle divisions.
In their place were Xavier University and Corpus Christi School that earned the rights to dispute the SBP and Pasarelle titles on Saturday afternoon, September 24, at Barangay Tablon gym.
“The outcome of the elimination round had completely altered last year’s landscape in the Milo-backed Oro Best Center which can also be attributed to the departure of Bukidnon Faith’s top talents to other schools in Cebu and Manila,” said local best center director Chow Vega, even citing Kim Andre Luardo whose 26-point production has catapulted Bukidnon Faith to winning the SBP crown last year.
Xavier University Grade School’s Team Blue proved too superior in blasting XUGS-White, 85-34 to face Corpus Christi Grade School in the SBP Final on Saturday at 1 p.m.
The CCS dribblers drubbed St. Mary’s School (SMS), 66-48 in the other half of the crossover matches.
In pasarelle level, the Corpus Christi Knights of coach Carlo Dagalea suffered an upset loss to SMS Fiat (77-79) of coach Rene Ilogon at the close of the elimination round. But avoiding SMS in the next round, the Knights bounced back by eliminating the defending titlist Bukidnon Faith, 86-79 as Xavier University HS-A upended the Fiat’s giant-killing run with a murderous 91-43 finish.
“Nakasalagma lang tingali `mi sa Corpus pero niabot baya sa 15 points among lead until ni-rally sila nahilis sa two na lang in the final count,” Ilogon later told VoxPop Cagayan de Oro.
The scores:
Pasarelle division
Corpus Christi 86--Ocangas 15, Lim 9, Babia 8, Garcia 8, Harris 8, Entirina 8, Belderol 5, Curaza 5, Maputol 4, Cuaresma 4, Olape 4, Barton 4, Bustamante 2, Calderon 2,
Bukidnon Faith 79--Tan 17, Descaya 16, Abontalla 14, Porticos 10, Garcia 6, Blaya 5, Baldivino 4, Dubria 3, Responso 2, Calvez 2
2nd game
SBP division
XUHS-A 91--Racines 14, Ramos 12, Yasay 12, Escobar 10, Jao-jao 8, Garcia 6, Asio 5, Carampatana 5, Tan 5 , Balaba 4, Du 4, Mawile 3, Lim 2, Mainit 1.
SMS Fiat 43--Mesa 12, Langala 7, Mesa 5, Fulgencio 4, Mercado 4, Fulgencio 4, Cui 2, Cortes 2, Tabaranza 1, Suson 1, Ching 1.
