CCDC rips SLU; keeps final four hopes alive

CORDILLERA Career Development College Admirals buckled down to work early to hand another loss to Saint Louis University Navigators, 82-69 at the former's home turf during the weekend.

The win by the Admirals placed them in the team standings with a record of four wins and two losses in the men's basketball of the ongoing 24th Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League while the Navigators fell to 4-3 in the team standings.

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The Navigators hope for another final-four appearance flickered with the loss but will try to stay in the hunt for a title this year via the step ladder quarterfinals.

It was clearly a show of dominance for the Admirals who bounced back from their so-so performance against their tormentor, University of the Cordilleras, the last time out. They clearly out-rebounded the smaller and younger Navigators.

"It was a big win for us," CCDC coach Noy Luna said after the game. "The last two games will be crucial for us. Must win kami sa dalawang games namin na iyon, para may twice to beat advantage kami sa quarterfinals."

Stephen Lloyd Agustin led the onslaught for the Admirals with 31 points, including five triples on a 50 percent shooting clip from the three point arc, while John Alfred Conde added 18 points, all in the second half of the ballgame.

"This win really relieved a lot of pressure on us," Luna said.

With the Admirals leading at the close of the first period, 18-8, the Navigators slowly narrowed the gap at halftime to only four, 30-26.

Conde then scored nine points in the first 3:40 minutes of the third period to lead a 10-1 run which put them ahead for good with a 40-27 bubble.

SLU failed to recover from that run as CCDC enjoyed a 56-46 lead at the close of the third.

The Navigators came within seven late in the fourth quarter for a 67-60 count with four minutes left in the game but the Admirals withered any comeback by SLU.

The Navigators were led by Alvin Simon Bustos who fired 18 points.