NEWLY formed MUST team shocked pre-tournament favorite SPC Sharks, 82-80, even as the STI Olympians blasted Pilgrim Christian College on Wednesday night at Gusa covered court to remain unbeaten in the 2014 Oro Inter-Collegiate basketball championships.
MUST’s upset win over the wards of coach Reynolds Dangcal immediately caught the attention of local basketball followers.
“Praktisado ang MUST kay patsada na baya kaayo ilang gym karon. Dili pud mabasta-basta ilang gi-hire nga mentor,” one observer said, referring to multi-titled coach Edgardo “Boy” Dacoco.
Dacoco’s son Stephen, who’s now working at City Hall, had been designated by his father to call the shots for the STI Olympians. And there seems to be no problem.
The Olympians, after opening their own campaign on a bright note, racked up two-straight wins against Capitol University, 85-77 and Pilgrim, 86-73 to grab the solo lead with a 3-0 record.
Mentored by Jonas Molawan, the CU Stallions rebounded quickly by beating Lourdes College, 80-73 to match MUST’s 2-2 win-loss ledger, one rank behind second-running SPC at 2-1.
The league’s head of the referees Danilo Jaminal said exciting games of the Speed-backed hoopfest will shift to brgy. Bonbon’s covered court on Sunday with triple-header matches.
Booked to start at 5 pm, CU will be playing against the winless Pilgrim; MUST will test the mighty STI as Lourdes will be up opposite SPC.
“Instead of Saturday, among gi-move ang Bonbon playdate on Sunday aron dili ma-conflict sa Cosaa Meet basketball,” Jaminal told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
Speed basketball’s founding head, lawyer Roy Hilario Raagas said the inter-collegiate also serves as local elimination of the PCCL National Finals.
“The winner here will play the top-team finisher in Iligan. After the Regional Finals probably in Tubod, Lanao del Norte naa pay Mindanao Finals in a still undisclosed venue,” said Raagas, a former City Councilor-turned city administrator of Mayor Oscar S. Moreno. (LLS)