Cardinals whip Cavs for last finals seat

UNIVERSITY of Baguio stopped a streaking Philippine Military Academy to earn the last finals seat and join defending champion University of the Cordilleras in men’s basketball of the Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League.

A searing second quarter run was all the Cardinals needed to topple the Cavaliers, 106-57, to arrange another titular showdown against the unbeaten Jaguars who took a free ride to the finals after sweeping the eliminations.

Gunner Clyriel Elefante topped the Cardinals anew with 19 points on a 5 of 7 from the three point range while back-up guards Kendrick Basan and Ray Bilibli added 15 each with forward Richard Bilibli chipping in 11 markers to finish off the Cavaliers.

The second seeded Cardinals battled toe-to-toe against the fourth seeded Cavaliers in the early goings of the ball game but UB had its ammunition firing and closed the first quarter with a 27-15 advantage from a 0-6 deficit.

And the lead kept piling up as UB increased this to 22 at half time, 55-33.

“I just told them to play their game and at the same time stop their guards, at kung may pagkakataon eh push lang ng push,” said the second year Cardinal coach Rogelio Basto.

PMA’s one-two punch in Kevin Yriarte and Richard Quion was nowhere to be found right after the five minute mark of the ball game but simply fizzled out the rest of the ball game following their 29 and 20 point production the last time out.

The Cavaliers were riding high on their two game winning streak in the quarter finals knock out phase after disposing Saint Louis University followed by a big win over third seeded Baguio Central University.

And with the 92-86 victory against the Eagles, the Cavaliers made it to the semis, but failed to come close in winning against the 21 time champion UB Cardinals Dennie Fernandez pulled 18 points for the Cavaliers while Yriarte had only 17 who last lead the Cardinals at 9-11 with 5:20 remaining in the first quarter.

It was a good shooting game for the Cardinals who shot 27 triples and banging away 12 down the drain for a 32.5 shooting clip from the three-point territory.

Despite the win, the Cardinals, according to Basto needs to double their effort against the defending champion Jaguars.

“Marami pang dapat gawin lalo may home court advantage sila sa game 1 kaya kelangan doble talaga yung effort ng team,” added Basto.