HIGHLY-touted University of Mindanao (UM) Cardinals defended its women's title by routing Emar Human and Environmental College, 98-29, in their finals showdown as the Davao City Private Schools Athletic Association (Prisaa) Meet basketball competition resumed at the UM Matina Gym Sunday.
The Cardinals, coached by seasoned Crisanthemum "Ining" Sarabia, will advance to the Southern Prisaa Meet set on Feb. 21 to 23 at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex in Tagum City.
UM gained a twice-to-beat advantage in the finals for sweeping its two games against Emar, 73-34, and Rizal Memorial Colleges (RMC), 86-38, in the eliminations. UM and Emar set up a championship match for grabbing the first two spots after elims as the latter defeated RMC, 74-53.
In the men's division, DMMA College of Southern Philippines (DMMACSP) sank Agro-Industrial Foundation College of the Philippines (AIFCP), Sailors 80-77, while the Jose Maria College (JMC) Kings crushed STI College, 112-58 in bracket A.
The Davao Doctors College (DDC) won by forfeiture over Mats College of Techonology in men's bracket B.
Prisaa 11 executive director Joaquin "Boy" Sarabia on Monday said semi-finals will kick off Sunday morning as Agro Sailors will clash against bracket B No. 2 University of the Immaculate Conception (UIC) at 9 a.m. while DMMACSP will take on bracket B leader UM Wildcats at 10 a.m.
Agro, DMMACSP and JMC figured in a three-way tie having posted similar 3-1 win-loss card but organizers applied the quotient system to determine the top two squads that will advance to the crossover semis.
Sarabia, in a phone interview, said: "Agro has a +6, DMMACSP with zero and JMC with -6. JMC beat DMMACSP by three points, Agro defeated JMC by nine points and DMMACSP prevailed over Agro by three points."
Thus, he added that Agro and DMMACSP won the rights to enter the semis round. Semis winners will fight for the slot to represent the city to the regional finals.