HOLY Cross of Davao College (HCDC) Crusaders team captain James Linares fumbled on his attempt in the final six seconds that cost them the match and crowned Holy Trinity College of General Santos City champion anew for the second straight time as the 2018 Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) Mindanao Qualifying closed early Monday evening at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center.
HTC escaped past HCDC, 79-78, breaking the Crusaders' hearts in the game that saw a series of lead changes. HCDC also lost to HCDC by one point in the Mindanao finals last year.
HCDC head coach Isaias "Ice" Gravador, Jr., recalled, "It was a seesaw game. They led first, we came back and grabbed the lead. They came back and grabbed the lead. Two teams that refused to lose. It was just unfortunate we were in the losing end. We should learn to finish games and execute down the stretch."
He said that his players felt down when the final buzzer sounded.
"I told them inside the locker room that they should be proud for what they have accomplished and how they performed. We did not expect to be playing in the Mindanao finals," he said, adding that the players' performance exceeded his expectations.
Gravador, in a previous interview with SunStar Davao, already downplayed their chances against HTC who has the luxury of size and heft with vast championship experience to boot. HTC players who steered the team to win the 2017 title are still intact while HCDC paraded six rookies aside from few regulars who are mostly in their sophomore and junior years.
HTC, meanwhile, advanced to the Visayas-Mindanao Regional Championship that is ongoing as of Tuesday, December 4. Also vying for a seat in the PCCL final four are Cesafi champion University of the Visayas and Visayas qualifier Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias.