SAINT Louis University Lady Navigators inched their way into another title as they score a lopsided victory against the University of Baguio Lady Cardinals and win game one in the best of three finals series in women’s basketball of the Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League season 28.
The defending champion Lady Navigators cruised their way into yet another swift victory, 70-54, as they pounded the Lady Cardinals in their very own turf, Prince Bernhard gym Tuesday afternoon.
SLU stayed unscathed improving with five straight wins after cornering their first four in the eliminations round.
From then on, the home playing SLU squad never looked back as it staved off every rally from the Lady Cardinals, with UB giving their last hurrah coming from a 67-49 deficit with 3:15 left in the pay-off canto.
Blessie Ann Fideles led SLU, finishing the game with 20 big points with Trisha Costales firing 10 points, while Michelle Hafalla and Anna May Tamondong each added nine.
Navigators team captain Catherine Camilo, who opened the finals with only five points, was out before the end of the first period as she suffered a foot injury early in the game.
SLU head coach Raymund Austria said the team is itching to end the season with a sweep victory.
“I know the girls really wanted to keep the title from the very start of this tournament and that is our sole motivation,” Austria said. “If we can do it fast next game we will definitely grab the opportunity to close this season early,” he added.
The Lady Navigators can easily wrap up the series this week to protect the title it snatched from the University of the Cordilleras Lady Jaguars last year.
UB will have to go through the eye of a needle if it wants to snare the crown against the twice-to-beat edge of SLU.
The Lady Cardinals moved forward into the finals after toppling the UC Lady Jaguars in their rubber match at the CCDC gym, after ending with an identical one win and three losses during the end of the double-round eliminations.