Cagayan de Oro Higalas B is just one win away from advancing to the Manila Bankers Life-Pilipinas Super League 18-Under National Finals after winning Game One of the Mindanao North Finals with an 86-82 escape against Meljohns Tailoring on Friday at Valencia Gymnasium & Cultural Center in Bukidnon.
CDO can secure their spot and join Mindanao South champion Max Ballers Davao and Visayas champion Sherilin Khalifa City of Naga in the nationals tonight at 6:00 p.m. at the same venue.
The national finals, 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, which will also feature the champions of Luzon and NCR, will begin on July 15 in Pampanga.
Rex Alcover was unstoppable for Higalas B, finishing with 26 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the field, along with seven rebounds.
Supporting Alcover were John Joseph Sanoria (20 points), Jarl Artango (11 points), and Marc Iman (8 points, 10 rebounds).
Five Meljohns players scored in double figures, with Jessie Puyos and Philip Peroy leading the way with 14 points each. Saah Bockarie added 13 points, while Steven Canete finished with a double-double of 12 points and 15 rebounds.
In the NCR Leg games held last Thursday at San Andres Sports Complex, EZ Jersey Doc Boleros moved closer to gaining a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four after a 109-90 victory over Caloocan.
Amiel Acido and Markkian Danag combined to lead Doc Boleros to a 6-2 record with only one game left in their schedule, contributing 20 points each. Acido, a standout from Perpetual Help HS, also recorded eight rebounds and six assists.
Mark Derick Cruz and Mark De Leon added 18 and 16 points, respectively.
Batang Kankaloo, which currently holds a 1-6 record, was led by Jeddy Dever’s 31 points and 13 rebounds but remains out of contention.
Meanwhile, Mandaluyong Namayan dominated Magnificent Manila with a 98-80 victory, tying for fourth place with Mapua-521 Trading, as both teams have identical 5-3 records.
Shawn Antazo and Angel Ortilla led the way for the Tigre, with Antazo scoring 24 points and Ortilla tallying 11 points and 11 boards.
NBS Kris also kept its slim playoff hopes alive with a 92-79 victory over New Era University.
NBS Kris improved to 3-4 for seventh place. A win by either Mapua or Mandaluyong in their respective final game in the elimination round will eliminate them from playoff contention.
NEU dropped to 2-6, while Manila finished its campaign with a 1-8 record.
