SAINT Louis University Navigators brought along their A game to scrap the collegiate all-star Team DOS in the open bracket of the ongoing eliminations of the 8th Panagbenga Cup Invitational Basketball Tournament.
After trailing close, 48-50, after the first half, the Navigators marched to take the lead and bag the victory, 108-94, during Sunday afternoon’s ballgame at the Easter College gym.
“The game was actually close. The boys really gave effort in performing team plays in order to run away in the third quarter. Good thing we came out stronger sa final period ng laro,” said Navigators coach Raymund Austria after the game.
“We still have some few games closing the eliminations. Hopefully we can still come up with a good finish for the season,” he added.
SLU stepped their game in the third canto with Alvin Ray Dumuk and John Carlo Gani carving 24 points closing the quarter with a nine point edge, 80-71, DOS trailing.
The collegiate all-stars then tried to regain control at the start of the pay-off period but the roaring SLU squad continued to add damage extending the advantage in a game high 17 points, 93-76, with 6:28 running in the clock.
Team DOS was able to narrow the gap, 95-88, after securing a 2-12 run behind Jeff Macadaing, Archie Reyes and Christian Galace’s lead.
The hometown all-stars then tried to generate momentum but it was stopped as Gani together with rookie Joseph Benedict Ong dropped the last 13 scores to seal the deal for SLU.
Alvin Ray Dumuk led SLU with a season high 31 points, seven rebounds, four steals, and an assists. Gani added another 17 together with Emerson Javier, who closed the game with a double-double generating ten points and 11 boards.
Reyes, Macadaing, and Galace headed Team DOS capping out with 27, 25, and 23 points, accordingly.