IT'S the Sacred Heart-powered Smart team of coach Boy Dacoco's turn to represent Northern Mindanao in the NBTC-D League's Regional Finals in Davao City.
This, after Smart eked out a come-from-behind 81-73 win over host Oro Grande-Xavier University in their one-off championship match here last Sunday at XU gymnasium.
The Oro Grande barely missed the chance to win the Cagayan de Oro elimination of the National Basketball Training Center-Developmental League after a heartbreaking collapse in the killer stretch.
"Sayang, nibigay among depensa ug momentum sa endgame. Sa Tarlac Palaro na lang `mi ani," said coach Manny Diaz whose XU dribblers ruled the secondary championship of the just-held 2010 NMRAA Meet at the Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Center.
With the biggest bulk of the pre-dominantly parents crowd on their backs, the Oro Grande went on to dictate the game, even holding an eight-point lead up to the first 3 minutes of the fourth and final quarter.
But like a savior sent from heaven, Norvel Lerio came off the bench hitting back-to-back treys that sparked a sudden change of momentum.
A costly Oro Grande turn-over shortly after a time-out call had only inspired Smart to buckle down to work.
John Karlo Casiño padded Smart's lead to six with a shot clock buzzer beating three-pointer and the Oro Grande's play was no longer the same.
"I think failure to run their big-man option play did it for Oro Grande," one grizzled spectator, said.
Casiño, who was adjudged MVP, notched 15 points in the ballgame, followed by Dennis Jabagat's 12.
Oro Grande got 12 and 10 markers each from Daytia and Lagbas.
Presiding over the awarding ceremony are lawyer Manny Nitorreda, NBTC National Tournament Director, and Rogelio "Jigs" Jaraula Jr., Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas-Northern Mindanao director.