CE Knights charge ahead, dethrone CBA Jaguars in championship battle

In a high-octane matchup, the College of Engineering (CE) Knights rose to the challenge and dethroned the defending champions, the College of Business Administration (CBA) Jaguars, 72–68, in a heated match that sealed their championship triumph in the men’s basketball of PLM Intramurals held at Rajah Sulayman Gymnasium last November 12.

In a battlefield where champions fall and legacies rise, the Knights defied the odds and claimed the glory.

As game 2 of the finals tipped off, the first quarter was all about the fierce clash between the Knights and the Jaguars, who engaged in a back-and-forth battle, exchanging offensive plays and defensive stops to end the quarter in a tie at 17.

Robin Austine Baez powered the Knights’ offense with his multiple layups, helping the team find their rhythm and stretch their lead to 9, ending the first half with a 36-27 board.

Entering the first five minutes of the second half, the Jaguars clawed their way back to make it a one-point lead, 50–49, but the momentum swung back when John Benedict Horario buried a cold-blooded trey that silenced the roar of the Jaguars, ending the third frame with the Knights still ahead by 6 points, 58–52.

With the Championship on the line, the early minutes of the fourth quarter were all about the composure of the Knights dominating and extending their lead into double digit, 63–53, but the foul trouble of the Knights opened a window for the Jaguars, who capitalized on the charity line to chip away the margin, 70–64.

With under a minute remaining on the shotclock, the Jaguars unleashed a final roar behind the hot hands of Lance Angelo Ignacio, who helped slice the Knights’ lead to just two, 70–68, but the Knights held the ball firm and in the closing seconds, back to back free throws allowed the Knights to put the game and the championship out of reach, finishing with 72–68 victory.

And as the final buzzer echoed through the gymnasium, the CE Knights basketball run reached its pinnacle, ending with the championship title in the men’s basketball of PLM Intramurals.

The CE Knights showcased their all-around dominance in this year’s intramurals by capturing championships in men’s and women’s chess as well as men’s table tennis.