Defending champion University of Baguio overcame an early deficit to rout fourth-seeded University of the Cordilleras, 79-53, on Saturday, Nov. 14, at the UB Gym, booking a championship return in the Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League Season 37 men’s basketball tournament.
Armed with a twice-to-beat advantage as the No. 2 seed in the stepladder semifinals, the Cardinals advanced to face undefeated top seed Cordillera Career Development College Admirals in the finals.
Kian Loui Garcia paced UB with 18 points, while Jude Quitolbo added 10 and Dion Ortaleza chipped in eight.
Junlor de Guzman carried UC with a game-high 22 points, while Neil Ivan Tong finished with 10.
Fresh from their upset win against third-seeded Saint Louis University Navigators, 71-68, in Thursday’s knockout quarterfinal, UC jumped out to an early 8-3 lead behind De Guzman before UB chipped away at the deficit.
Tied at 13 with two minutes left in the opening quarter following two free throws from Wade Mondina, Garcia and Quitolbo converted consecutive baskets to give the Cardinals a 19-15 edge heading into the second period.
Tong briefly reclaimed the lead for the Jaguars, 23-25, at the 6:15 mark of the second quarter, but Yzyr Palispis ignited a decisive 18-2 UB run with a three-point play.
Palispis added another three-point play at the 3:37 mark, followed by baskets from Quitolbo, Garcia and an Ortaleza triple that stretched the Cardinals’ halftime lead to 41-27.
UB blew the game wide open in the third quarter, outscoring UC 28-11 to enter the final frame ahead, 69-38, and cruise to the 26-point victory.
Cardinals head coach Kevin Orduña credited his squad’s midgame adjustments and resilience after another sluggish opening stretch.
“Definitely, our slow starts are a factor. What’s good about this team is midway, even until the end, we are able to adjust. I think it’s all about adjustment — doing the right adjustment at the right time,” Orduña said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Orduña emphasized a “next-play mentality” to keep his starters composed when shots failed to fall early.
“After a bad start, what’s next? That has been my motivation to all of them. After a turnover, what’s next?” Orduña added.
Looking ahead to the championship series against a dominant CCDC Admirals squad, Orduña downplayed the pressure of defending their crown.
“One game at a time. We just need to do what we are supposed to do, and a good result and the championship will just be a consequence of that,” he added. Roderick Osis
