Data Center vs BCT in Chesaa b’ball finals

DATA Center hanged on to dear life to fashion out a nine-point victory, 95–84, against the gritty Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC) in their semifinal rubber encounter Thursday evening.

This is in the ongoing Cordillera Higher Education Sports Athletic Association (Chesaa) men’s basketball.

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The Data Center Spartans almost bungled a 31-point lead in the third period then held off another CCDC Admirals’ rally midway in the fourth period to arrange a title showdown against the Baguio College of Technology (BCT) Eagles which barged into the finals last week.

With Admirals’ Stephen Agustin and Rhed Lubos sitting early on after finding themselves in foul trouble in the second period, Data Center started to pull away after a 16-all count with 2:94 left in the first period with Angelo Mendoza and Kerubin Gonzaga doing the most damage.

From an 81–51 deficit late in the third quarter with 1:55 left, the Admirals slowly inched their way back into the ball game firing a 26–4 blast in the fourth period and almost stole another come-from-behind victory against the Spartans with a 85–77 count 3:22 left in the ballgame.

“I told my boys to hang on, don’t get rattled and at the same time make adjustments in their defense,” said Spartans coach Ernesto Sanchez Jr.

Gonzaga scored Spartan’s first basket after a long five-minute drought and took control of the game for a 87–77 count 2:49 left.  

The rally was also stopped when three Admirals fouled out of the ball game. Agustin checked out 5:22 left in the fourth period after scoring 13 points. 

Allen Tamangan also fouled out at 3:44 with 17 points while Lubos was limited to only seven points then fouled out at 1:44.

“Minalas lang talaga kami sa foul, but it was a good game. Sayang lang at kinapos,” said Admirals coach Delson Terceno.

Kim Bengeg was the only Admiral who had solid game leading his team with his game high 31 points including 13 in the third and 10 in the fourth.

Mendoza led the charges for the Spartans with 29 points while Gonzaga chipped in 24 including five triples. Bryan Calderon and Valeriano Garcia were good for 12 points each. (Roderick Osis)