UB tames SLU for seventh win

UNIVERSITY of Baguio used a solid offense and a choking defense in the second half to score their seventh straight win in the men’s basketball of the Baguio–Benguet Educational Athletic League season 26.

The Cardinals simply outclassed the Saint Louis University, 96-64, right at the Navigators home turf to stay unbeaten after seven games and take the driver’s seat of the team standings of the premiere tournament in the biggest collegiate competition outside Metro Manila.

After enjoying a 48-40 lead at the close of the first half, the Cardinals shut down the Navigators on a 21-6 run that pulled them away at 69–46 with Clyriel Elefante leading the charge firing two triples in that run to account for his 18 point production, all from beyond the arc.

“We just stepped up on our defense, doubled our defensive effort to win the ball game,” said Cardinals coach Rogelio Basto in Filipino.

But the second year coach was surprised to see the fruit of their labor against the Navigators who suffered their second loss after winning their first five assignments only to fall against Philippine Military Academy earlier.

“I was a bit surprised of the result but I told them we can win this by blow out if we just made good stops along the way,” Basto added.

SLU was in the ball game right at the first period leading 4-5 with 6:31 remaining in the first period before UB erupted a 12–5 run capped by a Kevin Orduña four point play to put the Cardinals ahead, 16-10, with 4:35 left.

Orduña waxed hot early in the ball game in registering 18 points with back up point guard Kendrick Basan chipping in 12 points.

Basto added their biggest test in this year’s tournament will be defending champion University of the Cordilleras Jaguars, where they lost in last year’s championship series in three games.

They square off Thursday, Sept. 13 at the Jaguars home court which starts at 5:00 in the afternoon after the Cordillera Career Development College Admirals and Benguet State University Buffalos encounter at 3:30 pm.

“We have prepared for them and we’ve been waiting for them this year. We will counter any defensive moves they will throw at us especially to our shooters,” quipped Basto. (Roderick Osis)