Holy Trinity unseats STI-CdO, gains Sweet 16

Holy Trinity College of General Santos City earned a Sweet 16 berth after ruling the Mindanao leg of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League at Mindanao State University recently.

Cristopher Masaging unloaded 27 points as the Wildcats blasted STI-Cagayan de Oro, 100-78, to earn the right to represent the region in the Round of 16.  Denver Polistico also fired 16 markers and Kevin Pragados added 14 to help the Wildcats dethrone last year’s champion.

In the other game, Holy Cross College of Davao routed Zamboanga’s St. Joseph College of Sindangan, 91-66.

Holy Trinity, along with Visayas champion West Negros, advanced to the knockout stage of the Southern Island bracket of the Round of 16 starting on Nov. 13 at Cebu Coliseum in Cebu City.

Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz hosted the tournament’s Mindanao leg as part of the city’s youth and sports program.

Also vying for Sweet 16 slots are the top varsity teams from North and Central Luzon on Nov. 4 to 6 in San Fernando, La Union and from South Luzon and Bicol on Nov. 3 to 5 at Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum in Naga City.

Ateneo, fresh from its fifth straight UAAP title romp, has already secured an outright Sweet 16 berth along with UAAP finalist University of Santo Tomas and semifinalists National University and La Salle.

NCAA finalists San Beda and Letran also earned berths together with NCAA Final Four teams San Sebastian and Perpetual Help and Cebu Schools Athletic Federation Inc. champion Southwestern U. Jasmine W. Payo