University of the Cordilleras punched their way to a final four berth in the step ladder format semis of the men’s basketball in the Baguio – Benguet Educational Atheltic League.
The Jaguars started strong, faltered midway, but found their groove back in the final five minutes of the ball game to sneak past Saint Louis University Navigators, 63-59, Wednesday evening at the UC Gym.
Jan Rasic Ganilo and Toby Fang-asan joined forces in leading the Jaguars to a strong start that saw them up by nine at the close of the opening canto, 23-14.
The Navigators however mounted a comeback as Alexis Ercilla powered SLU to steal the lead at 31 – 32 with 3:44 remaining in the second quarter and a 33-37 advantage at half time.
SLU still controlled the ball game at the end of the third quarter, 48-51, when the Jaguars took the lead momentarily at 54-53 with 7:283 remaining in the ball game courtesy of Hamed Elhabib and a free throw from Junlor De Guzman.
“Ang sabi ko lang nung hindi pumapasok mga tira nila, work out nyo lang yung depensa nyo. Nawala yung depensa namin nung second at third quarter. Nung gumanda yung depensa dun gumanda na rin laro nila,” coach Joey Agacer said in a post game interview.
Aethan Paguio then made it 54-55 with 5:31 remaining with Fang-asan answering in the other end with a two for a 56-55 count, 4:31 remaining.
SLU’s Mark Mamolang reclaimed the lead at the 4:09 mark, 56-57, but the Jaguars answered with a 7-0 run and take the lead for good, 63 – 57 with two minutes remaining punctuated by a triple from Ganilo.
Ganilo led the Jaguars with 17 points while Fang-asan chipped in 14 as UC finished the eliminations round with a 5-2 card and will move on to the next phase of the tournament.
SLU meanwhile suffered it’s second loss in the tournament in six outings and will face tjhe Cordillera Career Development College Admirals on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 2:30 pm at the CCDC gym.
Ercilla top scored for the Navigators with 15 while Paguio had 12 as Angelo Cacho finished with 11 on a 1 of 16 shooting from beyond the arc.
“It wa big pressure for me. But we were still able to contain them and was able to adjust,” added Agacer. Roderick Osis
UC Jaguars roar back late to clinch semis berth, edge SLU Navigators
