HERCOR College Junior Jaguars drew first blood in the finals of the National Basketball Training Center Capiz leg after a 97-80 win over the Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion on Friday night at the Dayao Gym in Roxas City.
Raffy Arguelles led the way with 22 points, while Jiego Montillano and Janwell Famaranco contributed 16 and 15 markers, respectively, for the defending champions Junior Jaguars.
The Junior Jaguars can repeat as the NBTC-Capiz leg champions when it repeats over the Colegio de la Purisima in Game 2 on Monday afternoon at the same venue.
The Junior Jaguars waxed hot early as it jumped to a 32-20 advantage behind Arguelles and Famaranco. Colegio de la Purisima came up with its own conversions to come to within 42-51.
But that proved to be the last stand of the Colegio de la Purisima as the Junior Jaguars responded with baskets from Arguelles and Montillano to swell the lead to 80-64 early in the fourth frame.
Jerick Baselonia finished with 19 points, while Christian Fulge and Lee Christian Haudar added 18 and 16 markers, respectively, for the Colegio de la Purisima.
The Junior Jaguars and Colegio de la Purisima College were also both qualified to the regionals, where they will fight with the qualifiers from Iloilo, Antique and Guimaras for a slot in the National Finals in Manila./PN
