HOST Tagoloan National High School (TNHS) and Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS) both entered the semifinal round undefeated.
But they’re both in great danger to miss the final tickets when they face Bobontugan National High School of Jasaan and Opol National Secondary Technical School this morning (January 19) in the top-4 crossover round of the Chooks-To-Go National Basketball Training Center League Qualifier in Misamis Oriental at the Tagoloan Dome.
Barely hurdling all their elimination matches in thrilling fashion, the Tagoloan Eagles will try to rely again on the lusty cheers of hometown crowd as their main source of strength and courage in their 9 a.m. match-up with Jasaan dribblers bannered by the all-around power forward Rivera.
“Jasaan’s top gunner Rivera is a very talented player who can score from almost all angles. He will be the biggest headache for Tagoloan’s quest for a final seat,” said Dave Casas from the technical staff of the league presented by SM and also supported by VIVO, PLDT, Gatorade, Darlington and Exped.
The Cagayan de Oro-based MOGCHS hoopsters, who almost squandered a 14-point lead in their breathtaking escape over Bobontugan NHS, are also expecting a rough sailing opposite the Opol Dolphins who started strong before suffering their only setback at the end of the single elimination round for two clustered brackets.
“Expected nga thrilling kaayo ang semis matches. And it remains to be seen kon madala pa ba gihapon sa home crowd ang survival sa home team,” said Tagoloan sports czar Van Halen Parmis, who expressed gratitude to host Mayor Gomer Sabio for putting up close to P50,000 in total cash prizes for the four-day Chooks-To-Go NBTC Qualifier presented by SM for the first time in Misamis Oriental province.
NBTC MisOr Chapter commissioner Archie Ello said the champion of this league will join Cagayan de Oro ruler Southern Philippine College, Bukidnon titlist Infant School of Valencia City and the rest of Northern Mindanao and Caraga qualifiers in the NBTC Regional Finals set on January 30 to February 2 in Surigao City.