SLU evades newbie BCT for fifth win in BBEAL

SAINT Louis University Navigators gallantly withstood a scorching rally by the Baguio College of Technology Atoms to score their fifth straight win in the men’s basketball of the Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League.

The Navigators bungled a 16 point lead going into the fourth quarter but held on to pull off a nail biting 90-87 thriller against the newcomer Atoms on Monday afternoon at the SLU Burgos Gym.

In fact, SLU was holding on to an 11 point lead, 80-69, with 6:52 remaining in the pay off canto when the Atoms uncorked a 12-3 run to pull the Harrison based dribblers within three at 84-81 with 2:36 remaining.

But Laurence Gallano countered with a four point play of his own after he was sent to the free throw line after scoring a triple in the process to secure an 88-81 lead with 2:17 left.

BCT had four unanswered points in the ensuing play to make it another three point affair at 88-85 with 1:25 remaining before Alvin Ray Dumuk secured another basket to put SLU on top by five, 90-87 as time wound down to 54 seconds.

Jerby Calibo then scored a basket in the next play for BCT to trim down the lead at three with 34 seconds remaining as SLU struggled in their next offense.

Calibo then tried to send the game into overtime but his shot hit off the rim sending the Navigators into frenzy after the buzzer.

“Hindi sila nag collapse, andun pa rin yung dating ugali nung team, nagrerelax pag malaki ang lamang,” said coach Tony Dela Cerna.

Gallano finished with 24 points with Dumuk adding 20 points for the Navigators while Calibo had a game high 26 points backed by Erwin Perez’ 20 point production for the Atoms.

The Atoms opened the ball game with a 2-5 lead before the Navigators went charging back to take a 29-18 lead at the close of the first period.