UNIVERSITY of the Cordilleras (UC) survived a late rally by Baguio City National High School to win by a slim 79-73 margin in the under 18 category of the ongoing 2nd Miners Cup basketball invitational at the UC gym.
The Jaguar cubs enjoyed a 59–41 advantage going into the fourth before BCNHS made a decisive run at the start of the quarter chipping away at the UC lead.
With only 1:39 minutes left BCNHS was only down by nine, 72–63.
Eric Victorio scored an easy two for City High to narrow down UC’s lead by seven, 72–65, but Carlo Mitre of UC buried a triple to slow down City High’s run, 75–65, with 54.6 seconds left in the clock.
In the ensuing play, Victorio then fired another trey to cut down the Jaguars lead by seven 75–68 with 46.4 seconds left.
UC then failed to score an easy lay-up courtesy of Nari Galang but was later on sent to the foul line making one out of his two free throws for a 76–68 count in the tournament backed by CLUB 7882 SLU–Boys High School, Gary Lee Leighton, and Smart Telecommunications.
Mito dela Cruz scored another trey for City High to narrow down UC’s lead by five, 76–71 with 37.5 seconds.
Mitre tried to score a basket with 34 seconds left in the ball game and later was sent to the free throw lane. He muffed both free throws.
Dela Cruz then grabbed hold of the rebound and tried to score past UC defenders on a fast break but was forced to shoot in the free throw lane.
Dela Cruz went on to score his two free throws for a 73–76 count with 32.1 seconds remaining.
Both squads failed to score baskets in their ensuing plays as UC scored in their last attempt at the free throw lane courtesy of Galang and a two by Mitre as time expired.
Marlon Nuevo led UC with his 15 points who towed the team in the second period to lead for good while Galang and Mitre chipped in 14 and 12 points each.
Dela Cruz had 19 for City High while Victorio chipped in 15. (Roderick Osis)