HOLY Child College of Davao (HCCD) Red Eagles head coach Nestor Sorrosa downplayed the team's chances in the regional finals on Sunday, February 24, after they clinched the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) League 2019 Davao City qualifying championship title at the University of Mindanao (UM) Matina gym over the weekend.
The Red Eagles defeated Ateneo de Davao University (Addu), 83-76, behind the heroics of most valuable player (MVP) Vince Petdeo Cuajao who erupted with 41 points.
The team was also composed of Vence Reenail Malero, Emeliano Escalera III, Mauriz Pacer Senarillos, Prince Arnold Silva,
Faizal Allong, Cayle Manlimos, Joshua Reyes, Joshua Rey Catalan,
Froilan Tingabngab Palcis, Rj Villaflores, Rommel Mercado,
James Paolo Manigo, Aeron Jeswill Awe and Marvin Samonte.
Sorrosa said, "Hopefully mu-qualify mi usab sa nationals. Dili gihapon ta magkumpyansa kay kusog na ang Digos eversince. Naa pud Tagum og Mati selection mudula sa regional (We hope to qualify in the nationals. We can't be complacent since Digos City has always been a contending team eversince. Tagum and Mati selection are also playing in the regionals)."
The recent NBTC Davao City title is the third for HCCD but Sorrosa said it is the first time they would undergo a regional qualifying since they went straight to the nationals the last two times they ruled the city eliminations.
It can be recalled that the HCCD-bannered Davao City team also played Digos City in the Davraa Meet 2019 secondary boys basketball finals.
"Sa regional dili pa gyud round robin, knockout system (The regional finals is not a round robin format but a knockout system)," Sorrosa, who also mentored the city's squad that
won the gold medal in the Batang Pinoy 2019 Mindanao Qualifying Leg, said in a phone interview yesterday.
He is also coaching the Davraa team to the Palarong Pambansa 2019 after the Davao City Durians emerged secondary boys basketball champion in regional meet.