ANGELO Dandoy fired game-high 27 and Joel Vergara drilled in 22 markers while the rest of the team played exceptional defense as Jesus J. Soriano National High School (JJSNHS) crushed Cabantian National High School (CNHS), 95-58, in Monday's opener of the 2018 Escandor Cup Under 15 Inter-Public High School Basketball Tournament held at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center.
JJSNHS mounted a solid 48-18 advantage at the break with Dandoy and Vergara at the helm.
Most of JJSNHS' conversions came from transition plays, scoring on fastbreaks after forcing turnovers from struggling CNHS that could not get its acts together since the first period.
The win came after Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive program officer Ronel Leuterio encouraged the players to believe.
"Start with the belief that you can do it regardless of the odds stack against them. Nobody says it will be easy but nothing worth is doing is easy anyway," said Leuterio, in his inspirational message to the participants.
"You should be grateful for the opportunity that the Escandor Cup is giving including free uniforms and a nice venue to play plus good officiating crew. It is another step towards attaining your dreams -- perhaps maybe to play in the NCAA or the UAAP but more importantly to be part of the MPBL team in the future," he added.
Other games were being played as of Monday press time (August 20) that pitted Bernardo Carpio National High School against Davao City National High School, Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School against Crossing Bayabas Toril National High School, Fr. Bustamante National High School against Catalunan Pequeño National High School, Nograles National High School against Pablo Lorenzo National High School and Governor Vicente Duterte National High School against Dr. Santiago Dacudao Sr. National High School.