HOLY Cross of Davao College (HCDC) Crusaders expect a stiff competition when it banners Davao City in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) Mindanao finals slated December 1 to 3 at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center.
HCDC head coach Isaias Gravador, during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at The Annex of SM City Davao Thursday, November 29, said that his team is composed of about six rookies who are on their freshmen year, five graduating students and three to four players on their sophomore or junior years.
“This time mahirap. I heard that GenSan walang gumradweyt sa kanila. Nag-hire din daw sila ng import ganun din ang Xavier University (This time is difficult. I heard that no one in General Santos graduated. They even hired an import, same with Xavier University),” Gravador said.
Holy Trinity College will represent General Santos City while Xavier University will play for Cagayan de Oro City. An undetermined squad will don Zamboanga City's colors.
He also said that with limited preparation following their college men's division championship victory last weekend in the GG Cup, “we will still give them a good fight.”
The Crusaders, according to him, are in good shape with few players only having minor injuries.
Gravador also said that this year's format is different from the 2017 edition. While the Mindanao champion last year automatically earned a ticket to the national finals, this year the winning team will have to to compete in the Vis-Min finals against the Cesafi and Visayas champions.
The Vis-Min champion will then advance to the Sweet 16 national finals that will also have the best four teams of the Uaap and the Ncaa.
The veteran coach will lean on the services of James Linares, BJ Sumugat, Paul Turco, Mark Francisco, Jim Yap, Patrick Quidato, Renzo Galdo, Bernard Gutierrez, AJ Royo, Miggy de Loyola, Kenn Gudes, Ricky Ruales, Almar Quiabang and Gabriel Lazaraga.