The Saint Louis University (SLU) Navigators leaned on a steady second-half execution to subdue the University of the Cordilleras (UC) Jaguars, 75-63, in the men’s basketball tournament of the 37th Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League (BBEAL) season.
The Navigators overcame a gritty second-quarter challenge from the Jaguars, reclaiming the momentum before halftime and pulling away in the final two periods to secure the victory.
SLU established control early in the opening frame, taking a 6-2 lead with 7:54 remaining before closing the first quarter with a 25-20 advantage behind Aethan Paguio and Jion Viduya.
However, the Jaguars retaliated in the second period and erased the deficit to force a 27-all deadlock at the 8:07 mark and briefly captured the lead, 32-30, on triple by Alexis Prado with 7:17 left before halftime.
The Navigators quickly regrouped, tying the game at 32-all just over a minute later, and mounted a late run to enter the break ahead, 41-36.
SLU then reasserted its dominance after the halftime break, stretching their lead to nine, 48-39, with 6:14 left in the third quarter, then built an 11-point cushion, 59-48, late in the period before heading into the final frame with a 59-50 advantage.
The Navigators kept the Jaguars at bay throughout the fourth quarter, posting a 61-50 lead with 8:41 remaining, and they cruised the rest of the way to finalize the 12-point win.
SLU head coach Raymund Austria commended his team’s composure against tough competition while pinpointing specific areas for adjustment as the season progresses.
“The teams we faced in the first two games were contenders, and luckily the boys showed a good performance,” Austria said, who earlier won against season 37 host Baguio College of Technology Atoms. “But we will focus on our defense in the coming games since that is what we lacked.”
Paguio and Viduya topped the scoring sheet for SLU with 18 apiece while the towering Vence Nycum chipped 12.
Junior De Guzman had a game high 19 points to lead the Jaguars while Alexis Prado and Jesus Dela Cuadra added 13 and nine markers each. Roderick Osis
