HUGE upset rocked the 34th Kadayawan Sports Festival Invitational Basketball Tournament 2019 as the National University (NU) Bulldogs humbled Araw ng Dabaw 2019 champion De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers, 77-70, at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center that was filled to the rafters Wednesday evening, August 14.

The Jamike Jarin-coached Bulldogs grabbed an early lead but the Green Archers tried to keep the match close. However, NU kept its momentum down the stretch behind the heroics of Dave Ildefonso in the payoff period.

Ildefonso, who was hailed most valuable player (MVP) of the four-day Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) 11-sanctioned cagefest, made 12 points as Miguel Oczon buried 14 baskets to avenge Kadayawan basektball newbie NU’s 72-80 loss in their elimination game encounter.

Jarin was named best coach. He and Ildefonso received P5,000 each.

NU assistant coach Dennis Llames told SunStar Davao, “The team was just motivated to bounce back from our opening game loss against La Salle and we also wanted to end the Davao tournament with a win.”

The Bulldogs, he said, made a job well done. “Hopefully ma-invite kami uli next year,” he added.

Andrei Caracut canned 14 for DLSU, a regular entry in Davao leagues, who was the early favorite to win the crown.

Acting Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, SBP 11 regional director and Presidential Assistant for Sports Glenn Escandor, and lawyer Mans Carpio awarded the trophies and cash prizes to the winners.

NU took home P100,000 while DLSU settled for the runner-up prize of P60,000.

Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma Cobras, which survived a 77-74 win over arch-rival University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers in their battle for third, bagged P40,000. UV received P30,000.