St. Mary’s Tagum Marians ended reigning DAVRAA champion Holy Child College of Davao’s winning streak after defeating the Red Eagles 99-85 during the one-day regional championships of the National Basketball Training Center at the University of Mindanao – Matina Campus Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon.
With little time to rest after defeating Mati City 99-80, the Red Eagles went all out against a well-rested Marians during the championship game. However, the run and gun attack of the Marians took a big toll against a Red Eagles squad which had little fuel left in the tank as the latter to a maze of turnovers resulting to fastbreak points for the Tagum boys.
“Sa sugod palang maklaro na gipangkapoy pa sila” said Coach Nestor Sorosa describing how his team played.
With barely an hour after surviving Mati City, the Red Eagles were back in the court against the Marians. The fatigued Red Eagles played lackadaisical in the first quarter and the Marians, sensing the Davao City champs have yet to catch second wind, went on a blistering pace. The ploy worked wonders for the Marians as the Red Eagles got winded out by the time the game changed ends. Main men Vince Petdeo Cuajao and Emiliano Escalera tried to keep their team afloat but their efforts were not enough.
Felix Magallon and Junie Perdido tore the Red Eagles’ defense all throughout the match. The favored Holy Child side clearly did not have an answer to the Marians’ quickness as their attempt to catch up in the fourth fell short. Magallon was awarded best player of the game after torching the hoops with 31 points.
“Murag blessing napud ni siya sa amoa siguro sa Ginoo, basig naa siya’y better na plano para sa amoa.” Coach Sorrosa narrated as he saw the defeat as an opportunity to strengthen his team even further as the quartering and practices for the Palarong Pambansa 2019 is projected to start on March.
The St. Mary’s College of Tagum City Marians will advance to National Championships in Manila on March 22-25, 2019 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
