Lady Jaguars are basketball BBEAL champs
-A A +ASaturday, September 29, 2012
UNIVERSITY of the Cordilleras made a blistering run early in the pay off canto to sweep the women’s basketball competition and annex their second crown in three years at the Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League.
The Lady Jaguars scored a 50-47 victory over erstwhile rival Saint Louis University (SLU) in game two of their best of three finals series at the UB gymnasium Thursday afternoon.
Down by five in the last two minutes of the third canto, 45-50, the Lady Jaguars kept it close and made it at 47-50 at the end of the third period.
Ma. Karla Dioquino then led a searing run at the start of the fourth quarter and made it an 11 point lead, 61-50, with six minutes left in the ball game.
“We practically did not have our game during the first three quarters but then I told them that somebody has to step up and good thing Dioquino was there to respond,” said coach Albin Santos.
Dioquino was all over the floor stealing several ball possessions from the Lady Navigators that started the run in the fourth period and practically stole the win after SLU lead all the way until the final buzzer of the third period.
Dioquino led the Lady Jaguars with 18 points, while rookie Kristina Mendoza had 17 points as Jessica Mae Pingil added 12 points.
“This is one of the biggest wins for us after sweeping the eliminations round. We really worked hard for this and give hats off to all the players who have step-up in our campaign this year,” added Santos.
It will be the third straight finals appearance for the Lady Jaguars and the Lady Navigators with UC winning in 2010 but SLU bounced back in last year’s tournament.
And for this year, the Lady Jaguars made sure they will not be denied of the crown this year as it practically won all its ball game at the start of the season for a clean 8-0 slate.
Michelle Hafalla led all scorers with 23 points. She also drew 14 points from Katreena Yen but the Lady Navigators top scorers in Sheila Gapuz and Maria Fe Dela Cruz also came up with 8 and 9 points, respectively.
Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on September 30, 2012.
Sports
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