THE Jose Maria College (JMC) Kings and University of Mindanao (UM)-Main Wildcats drew first blood in Sunday's opener of the 2019 Collegiate Sponsors League (CSL) Escandor Cup at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center.
Kings tamed the Rizal Memorial Colleges (RMC) Bulldogs, 102-60, behind SPC-Mandarin Player of the Game Ian Gaslang who canned 10 baskets for the team in the league organized by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) 11 under regional director Glenn Escandor.
The UM Wilcats, meanwhile, clobbered Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) Crusaders, 82-77. Jaymar Mejala drilled in 14 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and made two blocks.
Holy Cross College of Sasa, for its part, also entered the winning column by beating Ateneo de Davao University (Addu)
Blue Knights, 86-75, behind Aldrin Caballes who erupted with 22 points.
Games will resume tomorrow, October 17, with Agro-Industrial Foundation College of the Philippines (AIFCP)
Sailors taking on Cor Jesu College of Digos at 4 p.m. followed by DMMA College of Southern Philippines at 5:30 p.m. and Brokenshire College against UM-Peñaplata at 5:30 p.m..
A total of 16 teams, grouped into two brackets, are vying for a slot to the Mindanao finals slot at stake for the champion team. The Mindanao titlist will then advance to the national finals.
SBP 11 operations head likened the CSL to the University of Athletic Association of the Philippines (Uaap) of Metro Manila and Cesafi in Cebu.
The league is also supported by Davies Paints, The Royal Mandaya Hotel, Mandarin Tea Garden SPC Branch, Max’s Restaurant and PTT Lubricants.