CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- A nearly tragic incident on the hardcourt almost spoiled the 14th Loyola Cup collegiate division championship match between defending champion Southern Philippines College (SPC) and Philippine Countryville College of Maramag here on Friday night.
This came when high-leaping point guard Ronie Salido of the Bukidnon team crashed to the floor head first and suffered a concussion.
The 5'8” Salidio, a former high school player of SPC coach Rey Dangcal, crashed to the parquet flooring of Xavier University gym downtown during a rebound play off a miss from a driving SPC player with six minutes and 22 seconds more to go before the end of the second quarter.
Salido fell on the back of SPC shooter Joel Go and onto the floor, hitting the right side of his head first and injuring his right ear. Commotion then erupted when Salido winced in pain as PCC's Marvie Maribao charged on Go and threw a punch.
PCC coach Joseph Lantong, however, pulled Maribao while cooler heads prevailed and everyone directed their attention on Salido, who was on the floor getting pale and going in and out of consciousness.
Lantong and the PCC coaching staff then tried to revive Salido for several seconds. Luckily he woke up and was laid on the floor instead of sitting up to avoid any further injuries while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.
After a few minutes, the Cagayan de Oro City Hospital ambulance service arrived and he was brought to the J. Borja Hospital in Carmen.
According to PCC officials, Solido was in stable condition and was already standing.
Loyola Cup organizer Arvin Martinez said Salido checked out of the hospital at 1 a.m. Saturday.
It was a sorry loss for the Stags as they led from the first quarter up to the third quarter until they collapsed with five minutes more to go to surrender the championship trophy to SPC 50-58.
“The loss of Salido and the ejection of Maribao were crucial. They were my key players,’’ said Lantong, who was also critical of the bad calls of the referees during the entire match.
Go was also ejected from the match for unsportsmanlike behavior that led to Salido’s fall.
African Stephenne Kazambe, a top point maker and rebounder for PCC all throughout the tournament was limited to only nine points as he lost his concentration after the incident.
“Courage Ronie Salido, you are a warrior. I could not play well right after your fall. I totally lost concentration but thank God you are safe and sound and I hope you come back soon,’’ said Kazambe in his Facebook post.
Coach Rey Dangcal said he felt bad on what happened to Salido as he was his player when he was in high school during his short stint as coach of the Cagayan de Oro College Phinma.
“But I am sure my player did not mean to hurt him. I really hope Ronnie is okay,’’ he said.
The Sharks and the Stags exchanged fire at the start of the fourth quarter after Windelo Sillar’s two-pointer put the Stags ahead with only two points 39-37 at the end of the third quarter.
Rudjud Daga and Christian Pagaran took turns for the Sharks' attack while Dennis Barbon, Jelord Monteza, Donald Abadilla and Kazembe responded for the Stags to take back the lead for the last time 50-48.
It was, however, the Stags last effort as point guard Kobe Canoy unleashed an 8-0 run that put the Stags down on their knees that they could not recover. Canoy’s offensive thrusts included two 3-point bombs and a perimeter shot.
Earl Ibot’s three points from the free throw line then cemented SPC’s Loyola Cup 3-peat title and postponed Stag’s party sometime maybe next year.
“Right from the start, PCC’s defense was good really good. We could not break their zone defense that is why during halftime, I told my players about our defensive adjustments to pressure the ball and deny Kazembe the ball and focus more on defense. The players responded and our defense really helped us win the trophy,’’ Dangcal said.
Canoy led the Mythical five selection with Pagaran, Mark Chris Bancal of Iligan Medical Center College (IMCC), Laurence Tindoy of XU and Kazembe.
Pagaran, who was named MVP, top-scored for SPC with 15 points while Daga contributed 13 and Ibot 10. Dennis Barbon topped for PCC with 15.
In the battle for third place, Xavier University Crusaders wasted a 43-34 third-quarter lead to bow to IMCC Rhinos 75-78.
Bull-strong center Dario Piatti played his best game in the tournament, scoring 21 points, but it was not enough to stop the Rhinos, which leaned on their endgame brilliance to secure the third place finish.
Trophies and medals were awarded by Kryzza Allen "Coach Kam" Casino, former UAAP player of the UP Fighting Maroons, and currently the chairperson of XU Senior High School PE Department.
Casino is also head coach of XU Women's basketball team and deputy commissioner the 14th Loyola Cup and CDO NBTC League.
SCORE BOX:
SPC (58) Pagaran 15, Daga 13, Ibot 10, Canoy 8, Tamparong 7, Alvarez 4, Tanawon, 1; PCC (50) Barbon 15, Abadilla 9, Kazembe 9, Maribao 7 Salido 4, Lantong 2, Silar 2, Monteza
2 Quarter Scores: 8-13; 21-24; 37-39; 58-50
IMCC (78) Suarez 21, Taganas 14, Casia 12, Araneta 11, Pangoga 7, Nacional 7, Bangcal 4 Visaya 2; XU (75) Piatti 21, Tindoy 13, Peralta 7, Areola 7, Paquit 7, Babate 6, Macapayad 5, Baang 3, Maagad 3, Fabiana 3
Quarter scores: 19-19; 32-43; 57-55; 78-75
