EJAY Ruiz made no sweat in burying the two crucial charity baskets for the Philippine Women’s College (PWC) Patriots who escaped past John Paul II College of Davao Saints, 64-62, Tuesday afternoon, September 24, in the resumption of the Davao Association of Catholic Schools (Dacs) 2019 college basketball tournament at the Ateneo de Davao University (Addu) Jacinto gym.

Tied at 62-all, barely eight seconds in the game, JPCIID’s Joshua Lacado grabbed a steal and passed the ball to Ruiz who was then fouled, sending him to the free throw line.

Patriots coach Joselito Celis, in an interview with SunStar Davao after the game, said, “Gwapo ang gidula sa John Paul pero gisulod nako mga experienced players (tong nagdikit na og pahumanay na ang dula). Lucky break lang jud nga naka-steal ni Lacado og nasulod ni Ruiz ang free throws (John Paul played a good game but I used my experienced players when the match was so close in the endgame. Lacad’s steal was a lucky break for us as well as Ruiz’s converting the needed free throws).”

The feat was PWC’s second straight win after routing Assumption College of Davao (ACD), 83-33. The Patriots will next clash against St. Mary’s College of Bansalan today and another win will catapult them to the top spot in their bracket and secure them a quarterfinals berth.

Celis said their goal is to reach the finals and play for the title as they only placed fourth last year.

He adeed, “Rookies and veterans ni akong team karon, naa miy chances nga mulaban sa finals (My team is composed of rookies and veterans. We stand a good chance to play in the finals).”

The loss, meanwhile, was the first for the Saints having thrashed SMC Bansalan, 107-58, earlier.

In other games, San Pedro College (SPC) crushed Holy Cross College of Calinan (HCCC), 82-29, while host Addu Blue Knights overwhelmed Assumption College of Nabunturan (ACN), 81-55, and Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) Crusaders waylaid HCCC, 105-48.

HCC Sasa, for its part, toppled SMCT, 79-66.

In the women’s event, the Addu Lady Blue Knights dismantled PWC Lady Patriots, 69-17, while HCDC Lady Crusaders toyed with the hapless HCC Sasa, 90-22.