CAGAYAN de Oro National High School is in high spirit, scoring twin victories in separate basketball leagues over the weekend.
The City High dribblers pulled another upset win, this time around against Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori School via 79-76 thriller in the 2017 Loyola Cup Basketball Tournament high school boys division last Saturday, February 18, at the Xavier University gym.
Quick on the trigger, City High followed it up on Sunday, crushing Tablon National High School, 81-51 to remain unbeaten in bracket B of the 1st Cagayan de Oro Public Schools Basketball Challenge at West City Central School covered court in Barangay Carmen.
City High coach Bismark Labadan attributed his wards’ final breakthrough off productive free throws in the waning seconds of the fourth and final quarter to keep Sacred Heart at bay.
Sacred Heart actually had a chance to grab the lead and a possible win on Steve Babate's free throws after fishing a foul from inside the paints, but missed all of his two freebies.
City High then grabbed a crucial rebound and Mark Lein Gayla picked a foul with just 2.8 ticks left with both teams under penalty situation.
Gayla made both free throws to ensure City High’s nightmarish escape.
City High earned the top seat in the semifinal round after topping bracket B with an impressive 6-1 win-loss card.
Labadan’s spirited charges also scored upset victories over pre-tournament favorites Corpus Christi High School, St. Mary's School and host Xavier University High School in the elimination round.
City High’s lone defeat was inflicted by the visiting Zamboanga del Sur Sports Academy.
In the inter-public schools, City High now leads bracket B at 2-0 after handing Tablon National High School of its second-straight defeat.
Tablon National High School started strong in the league with a 2-0 ledger, but slowed down in the next two outings opposite Carmen National High School and City High teams.
Carmen occupies second place at 2-1, follows by third-running Tablon at 2-2.