DC teams get opening day wins in PCCL Mindanao Finals

Holy Cross of Davao College center Paul Turco (red shirt) is too big and too talented for Universidad de Zamboanga to handle.

DAVAO CITY---Two college basketball powerhouses here successfully overcome the challenge from schools in Zamboanga City and Cagayan de Oro City to win their opening day matches in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) Mindanao finals last February 3 at the Davao City Recreation Center (DCRC) here.
The Holy Cross of Davao College Crusaders overcame a six-point deficit in the first half to beat the pesky Universidad de Zamboanga 79-72 in the first game to take the early lead 1-0 lead in bracket Y.
Trailing in the first 24 minutes in the game, the Crusaders relied on their lanky center Paul Turco to beat the Wildcats who played solid in the entire game.
Turco was a monster in the post as he scored 22 points mostly on inside incursions to carry his team to victory against the hot-shooting Wildcats.
Down in the first half, Crusaders coach Rocky Mejos decided to initiate more plays for Turco who responded by scoring over his smaller defenders in the game.
Turco was so fired up in the game as he even scored on a two handed dunk with a foul in the third quarter.
Crusaders pesky guard VJ Marquez added 20 points for his team in their morale boosting win.
Meanwhile,forward Vince Waminal scored 24 points in a losing cause for the Wildcats.
In the second game, Mats College of Technology Navigators demolished the smaller STI College of Cagayan de Oro City Olympians 96-76 to also take the early 1-0 lead in group Z.
The Navigators behind the brilliant plays of coach Thommy Collados took control of the game from the get go until the end of the game.

The Navigators relied on their solid defense and steady offence to bring down the Olympians.
Navigators guard Lito Balawag scored 18 points to lead his team in their lopsided win against the Olympians.
Olympians guard Jerome Minaling scored 24 points for his team in a losing cause.
The winner of the PCCL Mindanao finals will represent Mindanao in the PCCL Visayas-Mindanao Finals at the same venue.
The winning team coming out of the PCCL Visayas-Mindanao finals will represent the regions in the PCCL National Finals to be held here this year.
The PCCL National Finals are expected to be participated in by some of the top schools in the Philippines.