Cagayan de Oro Higalas B became the third team to advance to the Manila Bankers Life-Pilipinas Super League 18-Under National Finals after completing a sweep of Meljohns Tailoring with a 91-71 victory on Saturday at the Valencia Gymnasium & Cultural Center in Bukidnon.
Higalas B will join Mindanao South champion Max Ballers Davao, Visayas champion Sherilin Khalifa City of Naga, and the survivors of the NCR and Luzon Legs in the national finals, which begin on July 15 in Pampanga.
This tournament is co-presented by SCD and Dumper party-list and supported by J Project Clothings, MDC, Bluesky Advertising, NET 25, Wcube Solutions Inc., Hotel SOGO, and Converge.
CDO had a dominant Game 2 outing, having also won Game 1 on Friday with a score of 86-82.
Jarl Artango led the way for Higalas B with 23 points, while Rex Alcober added 21 points and eight rebounds. John Joseph Sanoria also contributed 18 points.
Meljohns was led by Yanyan Lumacang, who scored 14 points, three rebounds, and two assists.
In the NCR leg games held at La Consolacion College Gymnasium, Fin & Claw Grill moved up to second place after a 77-68 win over New Era University. On the other hand, Taytay stayed in the playoff race with an 85-77 triumph over NBS Kris.
Fin & Claw, who now have a 6-2 record, tying idle Doc Boleros, had five players scoring in double figures. Kristoff Vidallon led the team with 15 points and nine rebounds.
Leenard Desabelle and Pierce Magno contributed 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Johnmarc Tiongson and Danreb Singson each added 11 points.
Taytay improved to a 5-3 record, creating a three-way tie for fourth to sixth place with Mandaluyong and Mapua-521 Trading. They relied on the duo of Keith Bencalo (22 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds) and Joshua Bolante (20 points, 5 rebounds).
In the Luzon leg games also held at the same Manila venue, Quezon took sole possession of second place with a 6-2 record after Luid Kapampangan (2-5) failed to show up for the contest. Meanwhile, Bulacan picked up a crucial 87-76 victory over Calamba.
The Batang Lakan of Bulacan improved their record to 4-4, tying LDG San Pedro at fourth place.
Stanley Go recorded a double-double for Bulacan with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Ruzzel Del Poso scored 19 points, including five triples.
San Pedro’s record fell to 3-5, dropping to seventh place. The Laguna-based squad no longer has control over their fate.
