Montessori De San Ildefonso Bulacan stuns Xavier in BBI cagefest

MANILA, Philippines – Xavier’s Nathan Chan missed two free throws with no time left on the clock that could have sent the match into overtime. As a result, Montessori De San Ildefonso of Bulacan escaped with a 46-44 win in the second day of competition in the Smart breakdown Basketball Nationwide Battle of Champions at the Jacinto Tiu Gym in Xavier School, San Juan.

Bulacan’s Danny Parinas hit two pressure-packed free throws with 20 seconds left to give his side the marginal points. Xavier’s Diego Alandy Dy missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer but Chan was able to grab the offensive board and was fouled in his putback attempt.

Sadly, the Golden Stallion missed both shots that gave the Bulacan team the victory in the Under-17 championships. Parinas topscored with 17 points while Steven Tiu paced Xavier with 11. It was a sorry loss for the Golden Stallions, who were playing on their home court but were also missing two key players in Batang Gilas veteran Miguel Tan and Martin Sadhwani. The latter was unavailable as he was in a retreat.

Bulacan evened the tournament record to 1-1 after losing to Emilio Aguinaldo College, 61-52, during the opening day match at the Blue Eagle Gym.

The EAC Brigadiers quickly topped the Under-17 Division with is second win of the tournament following an 83-58 demolition of Philippine academy of Sakya Davao.

Over at the Under-12 Championships, San Miguel Elementary School made it 2-0 for the Bulacan-based quintets after they crushed Assumption College of Davao, 69-15. Bukidnon Faith Christian Inc. blew past Cavite’s St. Thomas More, 61-51.