Cauayan pips Baguio for NBTC regional crown
ISABELA College of Cauayan City took the 73-97 route Saturday night to University of Baguio in strides by routing Cagayan before pipping its only tormentor, 78-64, to win the National Basketball Training Camp regional finals at the UB gym Sunday.
It was a stellar performance for the visitors who were practically behind half of the time but then put on a fourth quarter virtuoso performance and limited UB’s shooting to escape with the title.
Cauayan evened the score, 53-all, at the end of the third canto after trailing by seven, 42-49, midway in the third. But the start of the fourth canto saw a different Isabela College team as it denied the Red Robins the basket.
Good defense saw UB committing fouls including unsportsmanlike conduct calls that saw Cauayan take free throws and ball possession.
UB fought to within a single point, 62-63, with five minutes remaining. It was the closest UB could get as Cauayan put on a 152 blast as the Red Robbins scramble like ants drenched with water.
Marvin Tagacay led Cauayan with 23 points while most valuable player Joshua Felebrico made 22, as George Purisima and Gabriel Felebrico added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Jerico Antonio was the only UB player who scored in double digit as he finished with 18 points.
It was a revenge for the visitors who was clamped down by UB Saturday night after routing neighbor La Salette High School of Santiago right after Cagayan High School nipped UB 77-73 in the opener.
UB went to the finals by blasting Santiago, even as Cauayan came out with a vengeance and sxcored a 31 point rout of Tugegarao to finish atop the standing actyually in tie with UB and Cagayan with a 2-1 win-loss slate.
“We really had to adjust after getting routed by UB last night,” said Rolando Gustin, a member of Isabela College’s coaching staff.
But the victory was rather marred by an unruly Isabela College student who went around the gym flaunting the school flag and giving the finger sign on UB supporters including former city mayor Reinaldo Bautista, Jr.. who was sitting near the sideline.
UB supporters called for his blood as security poured in to stop any incidents. It took cooler head to call on the offender who asked for apologies even as officials of the visiting schools sought also for apologies.