Agro Sailors overcome UIC

Saturday, January 28, 2012

THE Agro-Industrial Foundation College of the Philippines (AIFCP) Sailors edged the University of the Immaculate Concepcion (UIC), 67-65, in the resumption of the Davao City Private Schools Athletic Association (DC-Prisaa) Meet basketball competition at the UIC Bonifacio Gym Saturday.

The Sailors led since the start of the game, tightening up their defense to limit UIC's top shooters.

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Agro led as much as 10 points in the final two minutes but UIC made a searing rally and converted three crucial free throws out of six attempts to trim the lead, 59-66.

With the Sailors succumbing to costly errors, Peter John Baetiong sank a basket for UIC to come close at 61-66 barely 39 seconds left.

The Sailors couldn't get their acts together as they committed costly turnovers allowing UIC to reduce the lead by three points, 63-66, behind the basket of Ian Calihat in the last 33 seconds.

The UICians put up a full-court press defense against the Sailors to pave the way for the hoop-and-the-harm play of Baetiong who trimmed the lead to one. He, however, missed a free throw and failed to even the match.

A UIC player then fouled Sailor Rodel Cabonilas who managed to sink one of his two free throws for a 67-65 advantage.

UIC's Tristan James Aquino tried for an equalizer but failed.

Rowell Garcia drilled in 10 points to lead scoring for the Sailors while Donald Pelantes and Leovemar Medilio scored identical nine points.

Baetiong, for his part, scored game-high 21 for UIC as teammates Aquino and Calihat combined for 24.

The Sailors will battle Jose Maria College Kings in the quarter-finals set at 1 p.m. at the University of Mindanao (UM) Matina Gym.

Other matches pit UM against Mats College of Technology and Holy Cross of Davao College against DMMA College of Southern Philippines in the morning.