AdDU, Holy Child bag titles

THE Holy Child School of Davao (HCSD) Reds edged Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) Blue Knights in a pulsating final showdown, 79-74, to crown themselves champions in the Passerelle division of the 1st Emilio D. Escandor Memorial Cup at the Davao City Recreation Center Almendras Gym Sunday afternoon.

Vince Fernandez scored nine of his 27 points in the final period as the Reds survived a searing Ateneo fightback to escape with the win before a cheering Sunday crowd made up mostly of parents and relatives of the players.

The Reds saw their 20-point lead at the half disappear in the face of the spirited second half performance from the Blue Knights, and even trailed at 72-71 before coming back to life with a solid game down the stretch engineered by the gutsy playmaking of Fernandez.

It was a sweet victory for the Reds, who used a big second quarter surge to deny the Ateneo dribblers of coach Miggy Solitaria of what could have been a gigantic triumph in local high school basketball.

The Blue Knights got off to a rousing start for a 20-15 first quarter lead, but their offense went sputtering in the second period, scoring only six points and giving away 31 for the Reds for a 46-26 halftime score.

In the third period, it was Ateneo's turn to burn the hoops courtesy of Raul Langbid, who fired 14 of his 18 points as the Blue Knights cut the deficit at 52-60 entering the final quarter.

In the first game, Ateneo de Davao crushed Assumption College of Davao (ACD), 99-68, to capture the Mini division crown.

Ateneo was also playing Holy Child for the Juniors title as of press time.