SLAH, UC pull off wins in Baguio YMCA Cup

SAINT Louis Aurora Hill and University of the Cordilleras team B scored contrasting victories Sunday to continue their winning ways in the ongoing 2nd YMCA Invitational Basketball tournament at the YMCA gym.

SLAH bucked a slow start but made huge adjustments in the second period to pull of 59-47 victory against Berkeley team A, while the UCHS clobbered sister squad UCHS team D, 106-41, in the high school division of the tournament participated by 11 elementary and 24 teams from the high school division.

After being down 10-17 at the close of the first canto, SLAH turned the tide as it limited the Navy Base school with only eight points to close the first half with a 26-25 lead.

SLAH then waxed hot in the third canto to pull away and enjoy and 52-33 lead at the close of the third canto with Lindley Avellana firing away a game high of 25 points to lead all scorers while Berkeley’s Mon Villela had 19.

Robert Castro, meanwhile, came up with 28 points, including four triples in the third canto to lift UCHS Team B over UCHS Team Din another blowout game.

The 14 under squad took an early 9-0 lead in the opening canto before slowly pulling away to enjoy a 29-10 edge at the close of the opening canto before closing out the first half with a 61-18 edge.

Calvin Santos chipped in 26 points, while Christian Valdez added 13 for team B while team d was led Adrian de Guzman’s 18 markers.

In the corporate division, contracting services GWE barely escaped Salud Mitra in a 108-105 victory also during Sunday’s game.

Alex De Guzman fired 23 points to lead GWE with three others scoring in double digit as Chris Gaspar chipping in 22 while Benedict Gaspar and Gerald Peteros added 16 and 14 points each.

Salud Mitra was led by Michael Molina whit a game high 24 points, while Aldino Pascual and Denden Halog added 18 points each.

Some 20 teams are also participating in the corporate/senior level of the more than three months basketball tournament as part of YMCA’s trust in enhancing its programs for youth development mandated by its mission in building young leaders and communities.

The tournament also aims to reach out to the community and engage people who seek the well-being of spirit, mind, and body; enhance fellowship and camaraderie among the participants; and provide a venue where local basketball enthusiasts can have the opportunity to participate and enhance their skills in basketball. (Roderick Osis)