SAINT Louis University Lady Navigators ended the season on a high note as they pounced the University of Baguio Lady Cardinals, 77-67, for the Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League season 28 women’s basketball crown at the UB gym Wednesday afternoon.
The Lady Navigators successfully defended last year’s title sweeping the three-game finals series and ending the basketball season with a perfect 6-0 record.
Coach Raymund Austria of the Lady Navigators said the victory was very moving for the team since they manage to keep their ways into the winning track the whole season.
“Very thankful ako sa mga girls na ito, they helped each other to reach their goal and now we are back-to-back champions,” Austria said. “We hope to stay on top next year and with that target we need to keep a sturdy plan,” he added.
The early lead came from the Lady Navigators as they close the first quarter with a 19-13 edge before extending their lead against the Lady Cardinals with a 42-29 advantage going into the second half of the ballgame with Michelle Hafalla and Blessie Ann Fideles leading the team.
SLU continued to rally with their good defense at the break of the third canto but the Lady Cardinals did not easily gave the win to the visiting squad as Geraldine Lagmay joined force with Gracelyn Pagaduan in trimming down the gap 55-49, in the 1:03 marker.
UB staged to take charge of the momentum but was stopped by the tight defense from SLU and even went to extend again their lead in two digit marks, 57-47, with Hafalla, Trisha Costales, and Anna May Tamondong commanding the floor for the Lady Navigators.
From then on, SLU slowly chipped the time away and even extending the lead as for much as 17.
Hafalla led SLU with 21 big points, Fideles closed her game with 17, while Tamondong added thirteen, filling in for team captain Catherine Camilo, who was injured during game one.
Lagmay scored 20 points for UB including 15 she made in the seconds half, Christine Ramilo finished with 15 points, while Gracelyn Pagaduan added 10.