Raagas powers XU United to another impressive win

AGELESS Xavier University United (XUU) dribblers proved that their win against much younger counterparts from Batch 1997 was no fluke.

Last Saturday, the XU United hammered out another crushing 78-55 victory against five-time champion Batch 1999 in the 8th XUHS-ABA Basketball Tournament at XUHS covered courts here in uptown Pueblo de Oro.

Veteran center Erwin Raagas dominated the boards and sizzled for 26 points in leading the XU United’s lopsided finish.

Both teams were undermanned during the game with nine from XU United and eight from 1999 wearing uniforms.

The 99ers missed the 6-foot-3 giant Marco Sabal and had no other big man to challenge Raagas inside the paints.

“We gained a lot of momentum when the pacing of the game turned slow nga ni-fit sa mga manoy,” said XU United coach Jessie Cañete.

Thus, XU United improved to 3-1, while handing the 99ers of their third straight loss in four outings. They got `nothing’ from the off-form forward Albert Montenegro, formerly from the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, even as Mitchel Ompoc delivered 18 for the 99ers’ losing cause.

Meanwhile, Emmanuel Casiño scored 14 points in Batch 2003’s 56-47 conquest of the winless Batch 1997 that still hopes the arrival of their so-called big 3 in Nikko Valles, Andrew Neri and ex-PBA player Bitoy Omolon.

The round of upset however continues, starring the XUHS teams laced with veterans.

Batch 1993 pulled a hairline 64-63 win over St. Peter Faber Cup defending champion XUHS 2000 as Batch 2005 manhandled St. Ignatius de Loyola Cup reigning titlist XUHS 2006 by 10 points, 49-39.