SEASON host Cordillera Career Development College Admirals and Baguio College of Technology Atoms are off to a rousing start scoring back to back wins during the weekend.
The Admirals opened their title hunt after repulsing Baguio Central University Eagles on October 5 at the CCDC gym, 92 – 72, to kick off their campaign in men’s basketball of the Baguio–Benguet Educational Athletic League season 33.
Will Keane Lee and Bryan Gravilez fired 15 and 11 points respectively to lead the Admirals eclipsing the 31 point marker set by Kim Padawag of the Eagles and the 13 of Tirus Bambalan.
CCDC notched their second victory edging Philippine Military Academy Cavaliers, 79 -54, with Lee leading the charge anew with his team high 13 points.
The Cavaliers meanwhile leaned on the 21 markers of John Vincent Manalo.
BCT meanwhile opened their title hunt after stopping Benguet State University Wildcats, 101 – 85 as four Atoms scored in double digits lead by Mark Jaypee Reyes who led the squad with 17 markers together with the 16 of Lito Villanueva while Daryll Jan Torio and Timothy Miley added 12 and 11 respectively as Jasper Miguel fired 15 for BSU with John Stephen Galvan adding 11.
Miley also erupted for 20 points as the Atoms made it two in a row edging the Eagles, 77 - 62, Sunday also at the CCDC gym.
Villanueva added 14 as Anthony Angeles added 11 for BCT while Padawag had another game high of 25 markers for the Eagles with Nelson Codimo adding 11.
The 33rd season opened Friday (Oct. 4) as CCDC president emeritus James Dean Malaya remains upbeat this year the men’s basketball team will do good this semester, especially after a win over men’s defending champion University of Baguio during the Cordillera Higher Education Schools Athletic Association (CHESAA) games last August.
“Everything looks good and we are eager to welcome the other school members of the league,” he said.
It will be a single round-robin format in the centerpiece tournament with the Admirals hoping to sail high in the rigorous two-month competition.
Malaya hopes to duplicate the 2007 and 2008 season success of the Admirals who beat the Saint Louis University Navigators for the back-to-back titles.
He said his team is much better prepared now compared to last year when they failed to get past the second round.
With Jun Rimando returning as head tactician after 13 years of absence, the Admirals look pretty tough this year as they attempt to unseat the defending champion Cardinals.