Jaguars dethrone Cardinals in BBEAL

FIGHTING tooth and nail from start to end, the University of the Cordilleras (UC) Jaguars finally laid claim of the men’s basketball championship after 15 long years of drought.

The Jaguars drubbed defending champion University of Baguio (UB) in the no-more-tomorrow game three of their finals series, 71-67, for the 25th Baguio–Benguet Educational Athletic League (BBEAL) at the jam-packed CCDC gymnasium.

Following that 79-71 win in game two after a dismal loss in the series opener against the Cardinals, the Jaguars came up with huge defensive stops even down the stretch for their second crown in the 25-year-old collegiate league.

“We’re just very happy, and it’s a sort of a birthday gift for me,” said Jaguars head coach John Carlo Domingo, who turned 24 last September 28, the youngest coach to ever win a crown in the BBEAL.

In winning their second championship, the Jaguars now tied the Cordillera Career Development College, with two championships apiece.

The Cardinals still hold the most number of championship crowns with 21.

Lielmar Garcia, Jaguar’s top playmaker, once again poured in 15 points, while fellow sophomores Jeconaih Solamo and Chad Russel Villanueva chipped in 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Jaguars slotman Jopson Dail, meanwhile, had another double-double performance with 12 points and 12 rebounds as Andrew Payas added 11 points for the Gov. Pack-based dribblers.

“Talgang nagfocus kami sa defense tsaka sabi ni coach na wag matakot, gawin lang namin ‘yung dapat naming gawin,” said Garcia in a post game interview.

Ending the first quarter with a 19-17 edge, the Jaguars slowed down on offense in the second period with the Cardinals gaining the upper hand halfway, 30-27, courtesy of Keiffer Ocasion’s four triples.

But the Jaguars came up with a run of their own to end the first half with a 39-32 advantage.

Trailing entirely in the second half, Kevin Orduña slowly lifted the Cardinals on a one-point deficit, 64-65, with 3:41 remaining in the payoff canto but the Jaguars scored in the ensuing play with a triple courtesy of Payas.

“Masayang-masaya lang kami tsaka kung hindi dahil sa team work naming, siguro hindi kami mag cha-champion,” quipped Solamo, who scored the last point for the ball game at the free throw line with 14.47 seconds left.

UB had a chance to narrow the gap after Segundo Elegores was sent to the free throw line but missed both charities with Dail grabbing the rebound to seal the faith of the Jaguars.

“Hindi pa rin makapaniwala pero salamat sa lahat ng mga sumuporta,” Dail said.

Orduña and Ocasion led the Cardinals with 24 and 22 points each.


Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on October 08, 2011.