Fourth-seeded University of the Cordilleras Jaguars survived a chaotic final minute to upset the third-seeded Saint Louis University Navigators, 71-68, in the Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League men’s basketball stepladder quarterfinals Thursday at the SLU Prince Bernhard Gym.
With the knockout victory, the Jaguars avenged their 75-63 elimination-round loss to the Navigators and advanced to the next phase of the tournament as they take on defending champion University of Baguio Cardinals.
UC clung to a 68-65 lead with 21 seconds remaining after SLU’s Aethan Paguio scored six straight points to cap a furious fourth-quarter rally.
Jesus Dela Cuadra split his free throws to make it a two-possession game, and Nerhe Japz Mariano sank two more from the stripe with 11 seconds left to push the lead to 71-65.
Carl Velasquez drilled a 3-pointer with eight seconds on the clock to pull the Navigators within three, 71-68. SLU immediately fouled Dela Cuadra, who missed both attempts at the line with seven seconds remaining.
Chaos ensued on the rebound as SLU secured the loose ball before the game clock malfunctioned. Following a technical timeout, officials reset the clock to five seconds, giving the Navigators one final chance to tie, but SLU failed to get a clean shot off before the buzzer.
UC seized control of the tightly contested matchup in the third quarter.
Trailing 41-38 at halftime, the Jaguars tightened their defense and closed the period on an 8-0 run—highlighted by four points from Junlor De Guzman and a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Mariano — to take a 57-49 advantage going into the fourth.
“We really doubled our effort in the third quarter. We emphasized the word ‘effort’ to them so we could take this game. Good job to the players who stepped up, like Maxie Carantes for the defense and Japz Mariano for controlling the game in the third quarter. Even though our veterans were tired, they still showed up and played their game,” UC head coach Mak Zapanta said in Filipino.
The Jaguars pushed their lead to 63-51 early in the final frame behind baskets from John Lawrence Tajonera, Doni Cadiogan and De Guzman before withstanding SLU’s late surge.
De Guzman led all scorers with 21 points while Keith Tomas added nine points for UC, with Dela Cuadra and Mariano chipping in six and five, respectively.
Kazi Theodore Sta. Maria paced the Navigators with 15 points, while Paguio finished with 14. Joehanz Ellie Salvador and Nycum Vence scored eight points apiece in the loss. Roderick Osis
