CHAD Martin Suerte drained go-ahead free throws for University San Agustin to score 48-47 against Hua Siong College of Iloilo Red Phoenix and bag the ISSA Meet elementary basketball title.
San Agustin went on a huge scoring run to come to as close as 46-47 after trailing 35-47 with over five minutes in the game Tuesday at the Western Institute of Technology gym in Iloilo City.
Red Phoenix’s Jake Guarra then committed a huge turnover that led to Suerte’s two free throws – which completed San Agustin’s come-from-behind win.
Clark John Salvania led San Agustin with 16 points while Chad Ernest Cartel chipped in 12 markers. The team finished the elimination round as the top seed with a 5-0 win-loss slate. Red Phoenix (4-2) dropped to No. 3.
St. Joseph School, meanwhile, seized the No. 2 seed heading into the semifinals with a 37-23 win over defending champions Ateneo de Iloilo Blue Dragons. Jeal Nabo led St. Joseph with 22 points.
But the Blue Dragons’ title-retention bid may be in peril – one of its key players, Jurrien Iñigo Tenorio, was ruled out for the rest of the tournament due to chicken pox.
PAREF-Westbridge, on the other hand, ended their campaign with a 63-47 win over Santa Clarita International School Primes. John Adrian Altubar had 18 points while John Ramiel Edang added 10 markers for Westbridge.
The elementary boys semifinals will be on Oct. 15. Top seed San Agustin will take on the No. 4 Blue Dragons while the No. 2 seed St. Joseph will battle the No. 3 Red Phoenix./PN
