St. Dominic College of Asia’s Pikemen are on the brink of claiming their first-ever Inter-Scholastic Athletic Association Seniors Basketball championship.
In a thrilling showdown on Wednesday at the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dasmariñas, Cavite, the Pikemen edged out the defending champions, the La Consolacion College Manila Blue Royals, with a hard-fought 60-54 victory.
Despite the loss, the Blue Royals, backed by sponsors Demigod, Pureblends, Uratex, A-Game, and Infinite Basketball, remain determined to keep their five-peat hopes alive.
They will host Game 2 of the best-of-three series on Friday at their home court, aiming to force a decisive third game.
Leading the charge for the Pikemen was MVP candidate Edward Daquioag, who tallied 14 points in a standout performance.
He received ample support from Ken Alvaran, who contributed nine points, seven rebounds, and four steals, while Alvin Isaac and Ramyr Emerenciana chipped in eight points each.
The game was a nail-biter, featuring six lead changes and three deadlocks.
Ultimately, it was the Blue Royals’ inability to protect the ball that sealed their fate. Their 19 turnovers translated into 21 points for the Pikemen—a decisive factor in the series opener.
Christian Alonzo spearheaded LCCM’s efforts with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Eyle Cordano added 11 points, four assists, and two rebounds in the losing effort.
Meanwhile, the Blue Royals’ juniors team, the LCCM Junior Royals, will also see action on Friday. They are set to defend their twice-to-beat advantage against the ALIAC Junior Phoenix in the ISAA Juniors Basketball championship.
