CORPUS Christi School ruled in the first two championship games, even as Xavier University (XU) Junior Crusaders and the City High Tigers equally delivered their best in the remaining final matches of the penultimate 3rd Season of the Cagayan de Oro City (CDOC) Inter-Public Schools Basketball Championships, over the weekend, at the Nazareth gym.
Coming up seething with revenge, the Lady Knights of coach Catrina June Pong-Biongcog employed the box-and-one defense to neutralize the explosive BBG forward.
The effort limited Apag to only 12 points and Biongcog’s wards succeeded in besting Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS)-BBG, 51-42 for the secondary girls crown.
The MOGCHS cagebelles, it can be recalled, reigned in the first two seasons of the inter-public hoopfest at the expense of the Indahag Skyhawks and the Lady Knights.
“Actually, lisod pugngan ilang star player (Apag) maong nag all-the-way gyod si Catrina nga e VIP-treatment ang depensa kang Apag in the whole quarters,” said Biongcog’s assistant coach Esna Banuag.
In the elementary boys level, the City Central School Stingers fought with their hearts out. Alas, they didn’t have just any answer to Corpus Christi’s so-called “Baby Shaq” in Abuhan who controlled the rebounds and bullied his way to 21 points that set the tone for the Baby Knights’ lopsided win, 43-33.
“The Stingers were really palaban moigo sab ilang tres. Advantage lang among dako,” said coach Dagalea, referring to Abuhan.
More lopsided, however, was the XU Crusaders’ conquest of the Assumption Montessori School (AMS) Jaguars, 73-42 for the 15-under title as they proved that height is really might in basketball.
A losing finalist to the same foe last year, the City High Tigers were almost there, nearly upending the MOGCHS Cavaliers’ reign. But trailing by just a single point, the avenging Tigers missed three attempts in the dying seconds that paved the way for another title run by the Cavaliers, 55-52.
“Grabe sa tulo wala gyoy isa nisulod including sa follow-up try. Dili pa gyod nila panahon nga mailog ang korona sa MOGCHS,” said tournament director Raul Fuentes Jr.
The scores:
1st game
Corpus Lady Knights 51 -- Valle P. 19, Solis 18, Lubrico 8, Ebajay 2, Valle A. 2, Tagarda 2.
MOGCHS-BBG 42 -- Apag 12, Mejia 10, Juntilla 9, La Victoria 7, Labella 2, Anana 2.
2nd game
Corpus Baby Knights 43 -- Abuhan 21, Go 8, Capal 4, Tan 3, Juntilla 2, Selibio 2, Pilayre 2, Daniel 1.
City Central Stingers 33 -- Balmeo 12, Caingin 6, Balansag 6, Mabalos 3, Balbutin 2, Hallazgo 2, Roluna 2.
3rd game
XU Jr. Crusaders 73 -- Villalba 14, Moreno 11, Neri 11, Bracero 10, Maghinay 8, Mana-ay 8, Asio 7, Fabela 2, Ferrer 2.
AMS Jaguars 42 -- Lacar 10, Akut 9, Sanoria 6, Gallardo 6, Carasig 4, Caangay 3, Saguin 2, Labiano 2.
4th game
MOGCHS Cavaliers 55 -- Gavia 18, Agbu 10, Cagas 8, Palle 7, Tadifa 6, Lumacad 4, Insik 2.
CDONHS Tigers 52 -- Requia 22, Arcillas 11, Ano-os 8, Guiao 6, Pontanes 2, Mangalili 2, Castil 1.