Jags escape gritty Atoms for third win

UNIVERSITY of the Cordilleras needed the final ten minutes of the ball game to escape a gritty Baguio College of Technology, 88-76, in men’s basketball of the 26th Baguio–Benguet Educational Athletic League at the SLU gym Saturday afternoon.

The UC Jaguars used a solid fourth quarter run after the BCT Atoms kept the ball game close and even led at one point in time during their solid third period offensive attack that saw them earn a one point edge, 45-44, with 8:09 remaining. 

“Nagrelax yung ang team, inuderestimate nung mga bata kasi alam nila mahina tapos nag kanya – kanya na din sila sa open kasi gustong maka score ng mataas,” said a fuming mad Jaguars head coach Haynes Acdong. 

It was a hard earned third win for the defending champion Jaguars who had to lean on Jopson Dail and Leilmar Garcia’s 23 and 20 point output for the Gov. Pack based squad whose toughest assignment for this year’s tournament is yet to come against the many time champion UB Cardinals and the SLU Navigators.
 
From a 32-22 lead with 5:42 remaining in first half, the Atoms came charging back with a 10-0 run that saw them tie the ball game at 34 with 1:31 remaining in the first half.  

“Talagang nagkulang kami sa depensa kasi nung nakalayo na kami, wala ng team play kaya madaling nahabol yung lamang namin,” added Acdong. 

The defending champion however had their own run in the final 1:31 of the half with an 8-0 run of their own to finish the second period with a 42-34 count. 

BCT’s Jervy Calibo then opened the third period with five consecutive points to pull them within three, 42-39 with 9:12 remaining before outscoring the defending champs in the succeeding two minutes of the ball game and steal the lead for the second time since the first period, 44-45. 

Calibo then closed that searing run by the Atoms with another two point output to put the Harrison based squad up by three, 47-44 with 7:45 left. 

Garcia then conspired with JP Juralbal as the Jaguars regained the lead, 52-49, with 4:38 remaining but the pesky Atoms won’t just go down without a fight tying the ball game anew at 56 with 1:47 remaining on a Gibson Kitongan putback. 

The Jaguars finally brought their ‘A’ game in the final canto unleashing a 10-0 run to put them ahead by 14, 70-56 with 6:11 remaining in the ball game. 

From then on, the UC Jaguars never looked back as it countered every possession by the Atoms handing BCT their second loss in three starts. 

Juralbal added 11 for the Jaguars while Calibo top scored for the Atoms anew with 22 points.  

BCU Eagles meanwhile clipped the skidding CCDC Admirals, 102-95 while UB Cardinals toppled the BSU Buffalos in the other men’s basketball game, 127-77.