COLEGIO de Sta. Ana de Victorias earned the right to represent Western Visayas in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) Zonal Elimination after defeating Iloilo Doctors’ College 102-82 in the regional eliminations last Friday at the STI-West Negros University gym in Bacolod City.
Led by Jeffrey Manday and JR Issakadoula, the reigning Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports, Cultural and Educational Association champion recovered from a slow start to earn the Region 6 representation slot.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas provincial head Tony Agustin said the victory sent Sta. Ana to the PCCL Zonal Elimination in Davao early next month where it will play for a chance to move on to the PCCL National Championship in Manila.
The Victorias City-based players opened the match with a 7-0 scoring run on inside conversions from Issakadoula but fell prey to an aggressive IDC and settled for a slim 28-24 advantage.
Sta. Ana fell by as much as 10 points in the second period 26-36 but countered with a huge run behind Issakadoula and Manday for a 38-36 lead before ending up with a 44-all deadlock at the half.
In the third quarter Sta. Ana created separation from the IDC with a 17-0 scoring run while holding the latter scoreless in the first six minutes. At the end of the period, it was already a 73-57 lead for the Negros team.
With the IDC losing its scoring touch in the final quarter, Sta. Ana went on to build its largest lead 89-69 with under five minutes remaining and never looked back./PN
