Monday, September 15, 2008 Navigators absorb 1st loss vs Cardinals
THE University of Baguio (UB) Cardinals relied on its three-point shooting in handing the first defeat of the Saint Louis University (SLU) Navigators, 79-72 in the ongoing Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League (Bbeal) men's basketball at the jam packed UB gymnasium.
Clayril Elefante fired five out of five beyond the three-point arc to lead the Cardinals charges, chipping in 17 points while warding off a fourth-quarter run by the Navigators missing the services of big man Glen Torio who was ejected in the third quarter.
Torio was thrown out of the game after he was given a technical for a second motion after a rebound play during the third-quarter action, scoring only three points in the entire ball game mostly coming from the free throw line.
UB waxed hot on the three-point territory to build an early lead in the opening quarter and enjoyed a 26-19 lead going into the second quarter.
Cardinal Kevin Ighalo also joined in the scoring spree for UB, building an eight-point advantage in the second quarter 35-27, with 4:32 left in the first half.
UB posted a four-point lead with 7:37 in the third period, 50-46 when officials called Torio for a technical after an excessive swing of an elbow against a Cardinal defender, prompting game officials to call for a double technical against Torio. The Cardinals ended the third period with a 61-53 advantage.
The Navigators then relied on swingman Carlo Orduña pulling SLU within one 63-62 with 7:21 remaining in the ballgame catapulted by a 9-2 run.
Elefante then connected a long two to stop the Navigators ending a four-minute fourth-quarter drought. Slotman Ighalo also scored another winner to put the Navigators at bay 67-62 with 5:29 left in the payoff period.
Ighalo poured in 19 points connecting double treys to lead the Cardinals charges with Kevin Orduña adding nine.
Three Navigators scored in double digits with John Ray Fernandez' 16 and Orduña's 13. Albert Carbonell added 12 for SLU while Ramil Alimba chipped in nine.
The Cardinals are now tied with the Navigators having a similar 5-1 win-loss record placing them in the second spot behind league leader University of the Cordilleras (UC) Jaguars with a 6-1 win loss slate after disposing the CCDC Admirals Friday night. (R.Osis)
