ST. JOHN Paul II College of Davao (SJPIICD) Saints grabbed the top spot of the 2019 Collegiate Sponsors League (CSL) Escandor Cup bracket A team standings after taming erstwhile leader University of Mindanao (UM) Wildcats, 79-77, in the main match Friday evening, November 15, at Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center.
The Saints, thus, improved to a 4-1, win-loss card while the Wildcats dropped to 3-2, in the league organized by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) 11 regional director Glenn Escandor as qualifying for the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) 2019 Mindanao Finals.
Patrick Salvo was hailed as SPC-Mandarin best player of the game after hitting a crucial trey that allowed the Saints to snatch the lead at the stretch. He finished with six points, nine rebounds, nine assists and seven steals.
“Una sa tanan, pasalamat sa Ginoo gitupad among pag-ampo bisag nag-apas mi. Thankful kaayo mi kay coach wala sya nawad an pag asa sa amoa. Ingon niya depensa rami, before offense unahon defense. Ngadto mi nakabawi (I want to thank God for answering our prayers even though we were trailing the game. We’re thankful that coach did not give up on us. He reminded us to just defend, before offense we need to defend. That’s when we were able to catch up),” he told Collegiate Sponsors League Escandor Cup Facebook page.
In other games, Mats College of Technology Navigators sank Agro-Industrial Foundation College of the Philippines (AIFCP) Sailors, 75-71, to grab its third win after five outings and to occupy the fourth spot of the bracket A team standings. The Sailors, for their part, landed fifth with a 2-2 win-loss card.
Juanito Ybañez lived up to his billing having romped away with the best player of the game honors anew. He buried 15 baskets on top of his six rebounds, three assists and one steal.
Meanwhile, DMMA College of Southern Philippines (DCSP) improved to a 3-2 mark after eking out a rousing 82-62 win over San Pedro College (SPC).
Peter Flores sizzled with 22 baskets, five rebounds, four assists and three steals to clinch the best player title.
SPC retained at the cellar with four straight defeats without a win.
Games will resume today with Jose Maria College (JMC) Kings eyeing its fifth straight win against Asian International School of Aeronautics and Technology (Aisat) at 1 p.m. while 2-3 Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) Crusaders collides with 2-1 Cor Jesu College of Digos and UM Main against Agro at 4 p.m.