CISTM Pythons storm back to stun defending champ CE Knights, seize finals berth

Overturning their halftime deficit with a second-half surge, the College of Information System and Technology Management (CISTM) Pythons foiled the reigning champs College of Engineering (CE) Knight’s bid for a two-peat with a 59–48 win, securing a spot in the championship game of the 2026 PLM Men’s Basketball Tournament at Rajah Sulayman Gymnasium, Nov. 4.

Shedding their old skin and embracing a new era, the Pythons uncoiled their deadly attack and struck their way past the defending champs.

The CE Knights drew first blood, building an early advantage through cohesive ball movement and coordinated plays on both ends of the court that disrupted the Pythons’ rhythm and allowed the defending champs to maintain control heading into halftime, 31–24.

Once again emerging as the Pythons’ offensive centerpiece, Argus Joseph Alday delivered a standout second-half performance, pouring in 12 points to spearhead his team's comeback.

Trailing 24–31 in the third salvo, the Pythons ignited an 8–0 run behind back-to-back triples from Alday and Mark Jerome Geronimo, followed by a putback that gave them their first lead of the game, 32–31.

However, the Knights responded with a 0–5 spurt, highlighted by a triple from Robin Austin Baez that restored their four-point advantage.

Sustaining their third-quarter momentum, the Pythons mounted another scoring run as Alday drained another triple and his teammates converted several shots inside the paint, silencing the Knights’ rallying cries to close the quarter with a 46–41 lead.

Refusing to go down without a fight, the CE Knights reclaimed the lead, 47–48, in the final frame after converting two crucial baskets and knocking down a three-pointer, putting the Pythons’ advantage in jeopardy.

With Alday at the helm, the Pythons injected another dose of venom into their attack, while Mark Theodore Palma delivered two crucial layups to dash the Knights’ hopes and help seal the 59–48 victory.

Alday earned another Most Valuable Player (MVP) honor after delivering an all-around performance with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocks, while Michael Edwin Pedroso helped dictate the pace of the game and chipped in 10 points.

The Pythons will return to the hardwood on Friday for a redemption match against the CED Titans, the same team that defeated them in last year’s battle for third place, as they vie for the 2026 PLM Men’s Basketball crown