CORPUS Christi School (CCS) duplicated last year’s feat after bagging again the Passerelle and SBP titles in the Milo Best Center Cagayan de Oro leg finals on Sunday at Barangay Tablon mini-gym here.
It was a three-peat finish for the Corpus Jr. Knights in the Passerelle division after surviving a tough challenge against Xavier University High School (XUHS) Jr. Crusaders via 86-79 win in the final.
The taller Jr. Knights of coach Carlo Dagalea were outplayed in the second and third quarters with slim margin, but retaliated in the final fourth period.
With the score tied at 66-all, Corpus was already in penalty situation with 6:46 minutes left in the ballgame.
But the Jr. Crusaders of veteran coach Manny Diaz failed to capitalize it, even committed five team fouls at 4:03 mark of play.
Aside from that, Diaz’s wards scored poorly from the freethrow line, missing six charities that proved costly.
Corpus Christi’s towering pair of Daniel David Harris and Khen Caduyac plus the division MVP Jose Miguel Escalderon thrived mostly from inside the paints, converting crucial baskets to pad the lead to six.
The Jr. Crusaders fought back to inch closer, but Caduyac made an easy basket to preserve Corpus lead at four with still 1:01 minutes remaining.
They had a crucial play to keep the game tight, but Zhan Paolo Moreno made a turnover and blew off their chances in the last 49 seconds of play.
XUHS landed second in the division, while Bukidnon Faith Christian School and Infant Jesus School of Bukidnon finished third and fourth, respectively.
The Corpus baby Knights nailed their second straight title in the SBP division after beating St. Mary’s School Fiat, 95-50 in the final.
Apl McAndrei Gamao showed leadership in the baby Knight’s back-to-back finish that earned for him the MVP plum.
St. Mary’s of coach Rene Ilogon was already happy to reach the final as the league considered them the underdog.
“St. Mary’s Fiat never expected to reach the final, they were just a surprise team to reach the final,” said league commissioner Chow Vega.
St. Mary’s settles for second place, while Bukidnon Faith and Infant Jesus School occupied third and fourth.
La Salle University of Ozamis and La Salle Academy of Iligan were cited for the sportsmanship awards each in the SBP and pasarelle categories.