ROOKIE-LADEN Baguio College of Technology Atoms shut the door on Saint Louis University Navigators Final 4 hopes in men’s basketball of the Baguio – Benguet Educational Athletic League (BBEAL) season 33.
The Atoms leaned on second year player Lito Villanueva who had a team high of 18 markers in eliminating the Navs, 72-56, at the University of the Cordilleras gym Thursday afternoon.
Both BCT and SLU finished the eliminations round with an identical 5-3 win loss record but the Navigators fell short of duplicating their semis appearance last year after suffering three straight defeats.
The Atoms denied the Navigators from scoring beyond the arc and slowly padded their lead from a precarious six point advantage at the close of the opening canto, 14–8.
At halftime, the Atoms were enjoying a 37–27 lead and finished the third quarter with a flare and enjoy a 21-point advantage.
Timothy Miley and EJ Serapion added 15 and 11 points each for BCT while Navs point guard Jed Barrientos graduated with more than three minutes to go in the final canto, led SLU with 16 markers with Karlo Alexis Marquez chipped in 11.
SLU was riding high on a five game winning streak but their season start to fell apart after a 40 point drubbing from perennial and defending champion University of Baguio Cardinals and another sorry loss against season host Cordillera Career Development College Admirals as BCT showed the exit door for the Navs.
Meanwhile, UC routed Baguio Central University, 107-89, to finish with a 6-2 card and a possible second place finish and twice to beat advantage in the semifinals.
It will be the best finish for UC in two years after failing to make it to the Final 4 last season.
“We really didn’t have a competitive team but we are just lucky to be where we are right now,” said assistant coach Albin Santos.
University of Baguio still leads the pack with a 7-0 card and will try to close out the eliminations round against the Admirals who tote a 5-2 card today at the CCDC gym.
A sweep for the Cardinals on Tuesday means a step ladder semifinals that will start on November 7 pitting CCDC against the Atoms with the winner going up against UC on November 11 at the latter’s gym and a twice to beat advantage.
A rubber match will be played on November 12 or at a gym yet to be identified.
The finals will start either on November 14 or 15.
If CCDC wins on Tuesday, they will need to defeat top seed UB who enjoys a twice to beat edge together with second seeded UC taking on the third seeded BCT.