CE Knights, CBA Jaguars surge to secure spots in men’s basketball semis
Written by Vincel Farma • Board by Jian Muyano | 31 October 26
The College of Engineering (CE) Knights and the College of Business Administration (CBA) Jaguars punched their tickets to the semifinals after winning their quarterfinal matchups in the men's basketball division of the PLM Intramurals at the Rajah Sulayman Gymnasium last Oct. 22.
The quarterfinals tipped off with the Knights overpowering the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CHASS) Blue Ravens, building a wall around the rim to keep their opponents grounded as they raced to a commanding 30-0 lead before the Blue Ravens finally got on the board with a free throw, 30-1, eventually closing the first half at 30-5.
Even though the Blue Ravens spread their wings and kept pace in the second period, 38-13, the Knights held firm with a tight defense and relentless offense, maintaining the lead all the way to a 60-25 victory, with Angelo Galanza named Player of the Game.
Tension ran high in the second game, where the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management (CTHM) Aurums and the CBA Jaguars went toe-to-toe.
The opening period saw a fierce clash between the Aurums and the Jaguars as both teams traded baskets and defensive stops in a back-and-forth battle, with the Jaguars seizing a narrow 19-16 lead before triples from Justin Natividad and Gian Nocillado fueled CBA’s offensive surge, extending their advantage to 32-25 by the end of the first period.
Refusing to fade in the second half, the Aurums clawed back through Zach Cundangan's three-pointer and tightened the score to 45-43 with relentless pressure as the crowd leaned in on every possession.
In the closing minutes, the Jaguars maintained their composure and capitalized on free throws to extend their lead to 53-44 before sealing a 57-46 victory that dashed the Aurums’ comeback hopes, with El-Jay Mark Pleno earning Player of the Game honors.
With the quarterfinals settled, the unstoppable CE Knights and the clutch CBA Jaguars now set their sights on the semifinals as the first two teams to advance, carrying their momentum into a round where only a win keeps the championship within reach.