CAGAYAN DE ORO Higalas B became the third team to advance to the Manila Bankers Life-Pilipinas Super League 18-Under National Finals after completing a sweep of Meljohns Tailoring with a 91-71 romp on Saturday at Valencia Gymnasium & Cultural Center in Bukidnon.
Higalas B will join Mindanao South champion Max Ballers Davao, Visayas champion Sherilin Khalifa City of Naga, and the survivors of the NCR and Luzon Legs in the national finals which begins on July 15 in Pampanga.
This tournament is co-presented by SCD and Dumper party-list and supported by J Project Clothings, MDC, Bluesky Advertising, NET 25, Wcube Solutions Inc., Hotel SOGO, and Converge.
It was a dominant Game 2 outing for CDO, who took Game 1 on Friday with a score of 86-82.
Jarl Artango led the way for Higalas B with 23 points while Rex Alcober added 21 points and eight boards. John Joseph Sanoria also notched 18 markers.
Meljohns was led by Yanyan Lumacang, who tallied 14 points, three rebounds, and two assists.
In NCR leg games held at La Consolacion College Gymnasium, Fin & Claw Grill took a share of second after a 77-68 win over also-ran New Era University while Taytay remained in the playoff race after an 85-77 triumph over NBS Kris.
Fin & Claw, who went up to 6-2 to tie idle Doc Boleros, saw five players score in double-figures with Kristoff Vidallon showing the way with 15 points and nine boards.
Leenard Desabelle and Pierce Magno chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Johnmarc Tiongson and Danreb Singson added 11 points each.
Taytay, which rose to 5-3 to force a three-way logjam for fourth to sixth with Mandaluyong and Mapua-521 Trading, leaned on the duo of Keith Bencalo (22 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds) and Joshua Bolante (20 points, 5 rebounds).
In Luzon leg games also at the same Manila venue, Quezon took solo second with a 6-2 slate after Luid Kapampangan (2-5) no-showed the contest while Bulacan picked up a crucial 87-76 victory over Calamba.
