IT APPEARED that comebacking coach Rocky Calingin and the Xavier University (XU) Senior Crusaders have still more in their tanks left to offer.
The host squad on Saturday pulverized the Systems Technology Institute (STI) Olympians, 109-79 in Game 2 of the 2015 Loyola Cup Inter-School basketball’s 25-under championship to the pro-Atenean crowd’s great delight.
“I told you we’ll do better,” Calingin shared with this writer after the lopsided match.
The deciding Game 3 were still in progress, as of presstime, before a huge numbers of spectators at the Xavier University gym in Cagayan de Oro.
A buzzer-beating trey by Joel "Pogi" Sollano that cut XU’s 8-point lead to two, 42-44 at halftime break had the STI fans in frenzy as if the coveted crown was already secured.
It was a different story, however, in the final half as the Crusaders literally choked the Olympians with their crippling defense to avenge a Game One loss.
Freshman Glen Gallardo was a big help in XU’s offense, even as returning small forward Dodan Lagbas made back-to-back conversions off his own steal to ignite a breakthrough at 6:52 mark in the third quarter.
When Calingin fielded back his starting five spearheaded by Rhodelle Nagac, the Crusaders’ lead even padded to 17 points and more. And they never looked back.
“We simply lost to a better team today but we will try our best in the last game. Siguro kulang lang og motivation but the talent is there,” said coach Stephen “Popong” Dacoco.
Tournament manager Dindo Escobido observed that Calingin’s strategy to switch players from starters to stringers and back had eventually changed the complexion of the final series.
“Morag gipangkapoy ang first-five sa STI,” said Escobido.
Earlier, Lourdes College defeated Southern de Oro Philippines College (SPC), 66-63, in the battle for third place.