NAASCU19: Fatima d. TUP, 63-37

     MANILA – Our Lady of Fatima University assumed solo second place of Group A of the 19^th National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU) by drubbing rookie team Technological University of the Philippines, 63-37, in the main game Saturday at the Philippine Christian University Gym.  The Phoenix limited the Grey Hawks to only four points in the opening period and that was enough cushion as they coasted to their fourth win in five games with one more game at hand versus defending champion Saint Clare College of Caloocan.

OLFU was leading and TUP threatening, 6-4, but the Phoenix uncorked the final 14 points of the first via a balanced attack for a 20-4 advantage which they never gave up.  The lead stretched to as much as 31 with 1:29 remaining on a Rommel Diosa triple, 63-32, before TUP ended the game on a harmless 5-0 run.

Gabriel Gotera led all scorers with 14 points, sinking four triples in only 12 minutes of play.  Christophe Essomba had another double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Carl Angelo Bringas paced TUP with 10 points.  Sancho Miguel Vitug followed with only seven points and one assist.

How They Scored:

OUR LADY OF FATIMA (63) – Gotera 14, Essomba 11, Alarcon 8, Panganiban 8, Lumbera 5, Dalupang 5, de Vera 4, Diosa 3, Romero 2, Suria 2, Compas 1, Fortuno 0, Bargola 0, Abila 0, Pastrana 0, Frias 0.

T U P (37) – Bringas 10, Vitug 7, Felomino 5, delos Santos 3, Bayani 3, Afuang 3, Agcaoili 2, Martinez 2, Garcia 2, Abejuela 0, Magbanua 0, Reyes 0, Nebre 0, de Andres 0, Mira 0.

Period Scores: 20-4, 40-18, 44-28, 63-37.

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NAASCU19: PMMS d. DLSAU, 60-58

     MANILA – Philippine Merchant Marine School grabbed a share of the Group B lead of the 19^th National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU) after brushing off the fierce rally of De La Salle Araneta University, 60-58, in continuing action Saturday from the Philippine Christian University Gym.  Veteran center Wendel Attas hit the marginal free throw with five seconds left to give the Mariners their third straight win and tie idle Enderun Colleges at the top of the standings at 3-0.

PMMS actually led by as much as 13 with 6:07 after an Attas triple, 52-39.  The Stallions then countered behind Jonas Briones, Henry Iloka and Kennete Balbuena to cut the gap to only a point at the 17-second mark after two Briones charities off an unsportsmanlike foul by Bryan Hilario, 58-59.

Sadly, the Stallions could not convert as possession remained with them.  After a PMMS timeout, Julius Felix Lorenzo fouled Attas who missed the first but sealed the deal with the second attempt and dropped the Stallions to 1-2.

Hilario and Eugene Cabauatan paced the Mariners with 14 points each and a combined seven assists.  Attas finished with 11 points and nine rebounds off the bench.

Iloka had another impressive individual effort of 23 points and 20 rebounds in 38 minutes.  Briones followed with 12 points and six rebounds while point guard Gab Esteban had six points and four assists.

How They Scored:

P M M S (60) – Cabuatan 14, Hilario 14, Attas 11, Briones 8, Galicia 8, Sienes 3, Bautista 2, Inigo 0, Capalad 0, Palomares 0, Cabilin 0, Templo 0, Zalameda 0.

DE LA SALLE ARANETA (58) – Iloka 23, Briones 12, Esteban 6, Lorenzo 5, Aquino 5, Balbuena 3, Correche 2, Ombao 2, Batungbakal 0, de Vera 0, Pena 0.

Period Scores: 14-5, 29-22, 47-34, 60-58.

NAASCU19: New Era d. Holy Angel, 72-51

     MANILA – New Era University took the inspiring win over Holy Angel University, 72-51, at the 19^th National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU) Saturday at the Philippine Christian University Gym.  The Hunters erected their first double digit lead in the second period and maintained it for their first win of the season after back to back losses in Group B play.

Racing to a 9-1 lead and up by only four after one period, 11-7, the Hunters turned to Jeff Comia and John Akindele who fired four points each and Clyde Reyes and Reinier Quinga joined the scoring act and suddenly the Hunters saw themselves ahead, 30-15, on a de Guzman basket.  The Guardians managed to trim it a bit but they failed to pierce the 10-point barrier.

How They Scored:

NEW ERA (72) –

HOLY ANGEL (51) –

Period Scores: 11-7, 32-20, 51-36, 72-51.

NAASCU19: Saint Francis d. MLQU, 63-40

     MANILA – Saint Francis of Assisi College used a pair of 9-0 runs in the second period to put away Manuel L. Quezon University, 63-40, at the resumption of the 19^th National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU) at the Philippine Christian University Gym Saturday.  The Doves thus returned to the winning form after losing to defending champion Saint Clare College of Caloocan in their last game, 65-68, last Tuesday.

The Doves clung to a shaky 14-13 lead after the first period but began the second with their first 9-0 run led by reserve guard Joseph Alexis dela Cruz to pull away for good, 24-13.  MLQU’s Samuel Peralta ended their silence with their lone field goal of the period and that was it as the Doves went on their next 9-0 run from which the Stallions never recovered.

Dela Cruz put in eight of his 12 points in those two second period runs to key the win.  Avi Arellano topped the Doves with 13 points also off the bench as he, dela Cruz and their fellow reserves outscored their MLQU counterparts, 41-17.

Ryan Sual led the Stallions with 11 points.  None of his teammates scored double figures with Peralta added only eight points plus five rebounds as they dropped to 2-3 but remained in good position for a playoff appearance.

How They Scored:

SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI (63) – Arellano 13, dela Cruz 12, Taguiam 10, Chu 9, Selorio 6, Bongon 5, Manzanilla 3, Guevarra 3, Magsalin 2, Santos 0, David 0, Donis 0, Sullano 0, So 0.

MANUEL L. QUEZON (40) – Sual 11, Peralta 8, Alimasa 6, Jancinal 4, Fabila 4, Nicolas 3, Gula 2, Jamila 2, Zulueta 0, Julian 0, Llorente 0.

Period Scores: 14-13, 32-16, 48-27, 63-40.

Balanga Wins Magiting Cup

The Million-Peso Team of Wilkins Balanga, Magiting Cup champions!

MANDALUYONG CITY – Wilkins Balanga took home the much deserved one million pesos at the close of the Chooks To Go Pilipinas 3X3 Magiting Cup presented by Coca-Cola at the SM Megamall Friday afternoon.  Alvin Pasaol was named as Most Valuable Player as led his team to the thrilling 21-19 decision over archrival Equalivet Pasig.

Pasaol exploded for 12 points including the game-winner with 1:43 left on the clock.  The mad finish saw Karl Dehesa shatter the game’s final deadlock with a double, 20-18, but was quickly answered with a basket by JR Alabanza to put Pasig closer, 19-20, until the ball finally found its way to Pasaol who drove strong to the hoop for the winner.

“I am not joining this year’s PBA Draft because I want to finish our mission which is to have the Philippines play 3X3 at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” said Pasaol who aside from Dehesa was joined by Chris Dechavez and Leonard Santillan.  During the awarding ceremonies, league owner Ronald Mascarinas announced to the crowd that they will be bidding to host the Olympic qualifying tournament next year.

Despite being the number one seed after winning the first and third legs, it was not an easy task for Balanga as they had to oust second leg champion and fourth seed Phenom Basilan CTC Construction, 21-18.  Before that, Balanga booted out Partas Narvacan in the quarterfinals, 22-11.

Aside from the cash windfall and a supply of roasted chickens, Balanga earned a ticket to the FIBA 3X3 Challenger in Jeju, South Korea on October 5.  Pasig will go ahead and take a Saturday morning flight in time for a similar Challenger in Kaohsiung, Taiwan Saturday evening.

Runner-up Pasig received PHP 500,00.00 while their 21-18 semifinal victim Fyr Fyter Bacolod edeged out Basilan for Third Place and PHP 250,000.00.  Narvacan received the special prize of PHP 10,000,00 for the fastest game, 6:01 in their 22-13 romp over Adobo Connection Bulacan in the day’s very first match.

Meanwhile, David Carlos of Muntinlupa completed a sweep of all five Magiting Cup Slam Dunk titles while Andrian Celada of Bacolod topped the Two-Point Shootout.  The Women’s national team also saw action in an exhibition match as they also hope to join their male counterparts in Tokyo 2020.

The Complete Results:

The Million-Peso Game

Balanga d. Pasig, 21-19

Semifinals

Balanga d. Basilan, 21-18

Pasig d. Bacolod, 21-19

Quarterfinals 

Balanga d. Narvacan, 22-11

Basilan d. Mindoro, 21-12

Bacolod d. Bicol, 21-13

Pasig d. Zamboanga, 21-13

Round One

Narvacan d. Bulacan, 22-13

Zamboanga d. Taguig, 21-15

Mindoro d. Muntinlupa, 21-17

Bicol d. Vigan, 21-15

UCSAA: September 19 Recap

    CAINTA, RIZAL – STI College got the better of archrival AMA University, 88-76, and moved closer to topping the elimination round of the Ninth Universities, Colleges and Schools Athletic Association (UCSAA) at the Eusebio H. Tanco Gymnasium of the STI Academic Center Thursday.  The Olympians led all the way in the meeting of the country’s leading computer schools and ended their elimination round schedule with a 4-2 win-loss card.

Ryan Spencer Operio set the early tone for the home team with 11 points in the first as they raced to the 28-20 lead.  The visiting Titans could find no solution as Operio finished with 22 points and eight rebounds while John Ray Agustin supported him with 18 points on four triples off the bench.

In the first game, First City Providential College stayed in contention for the number one seeding in the semifinals by outlasting Saint Dominic Savio College, 81-61.  From a 21-21 stalemate after one period, the Royal Eagles turned to John Matthew Bravo and Neil Joshua Moraleja to turn the game in their favor by combining for 13 points en route to a 48-36 halftime edge which they never relinquished.

Bravo churned out another eye-popping performance of 33 points spiked by five triples on top of 16 rebounds, two steals and three blocks in 35 minutes.  Moralejo had six points in the pivotal second to finish with 20 points, seven assists and five steals.

Thursday’s results thus resulted in the Olympians holding a half-game lead over AMA, First City Providential and idle World Citi College-Aeronautical and Technological College who are in a three-way tie at 3-2.  At 3-3, fifth running Saint Dominic Savio’s chances hang on the results of this Monday’s fixtures pitting AMA versus Don Bosco Technical College and WCC-Aerotech versus Saint Felicity College plus the pending rained out game between First City Providential and Don Bosco originally for last Monday.

Meanwhile, the STI Junior Olympians clipped the SFC Junior Blue Jays, 73-61, for provisional solo leadership of the Juniors Division at 4-1.  AMA stayed half a game behind at 3-1 after trumping SDSC Junior Unicorns, 67-62, with the Junior Titans meeting the winless WCC-Aerotech Cadet Skyhawks (0-4) on the final day of eliminations on Monday.

How They Scored:

First Game

FIRST CITY PROVIDENTIAL (81) – Bravo 33, Moralejo 20, Diaz 12, de Castro 6, Manalo 4, Pio Roda 3, Sembrano 3, Conahap 0, Sahagun 0, Pimentel 0, Pugoy 0, Ocampo 0, Villalobos 0.

SAINT DOMINIC SAVIO (61) – Arellano 12, Boac 12, Dave Camaso 9, Agustin 7, Dale Camaso 7, Bueno 6, Villar 2, Ledama 2, Dionisio 2, Dolar 2, de Leon 0, Feudo 0, Baluyot 0.

Period Scores: 21-21, 48-36, 66-51, 81-61.

Second Game

S T I (88) – Operio 22, Agustin 18, Mallari 12, Macapagal 11, Policarpio 10, Mulano 5, Salinsawa 4, Maglalang 4, Oroceo 2, dela Cruz 0, Catamora 0, Datumanong 0, Emeterio 0.

A M A (76) – Germino 18, Alina 14, dela Rosa 14, Austria 9, Catorce 7, Fuentes 6, Estibar 4, Agsaulio 2, Saor 2, Catusalem 0.

Period Scores: 28-20, 44-35, 64-46, 88-76.

NAASCU19: September 17 Recap

     Defending champion Saint Clare College of Caloocan woke up at the right time to hurdle the challenge of Saint Francis of Assisi College, 68-65, to remain undefeated at the 19^th National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities at the Marikina Sports Center Tuesday afternoon.  The Saints are now alone at the top of Group A with a 3-0 win-loss card while the Doves fell to 2-1.

The Saints remain on track for a fourth straight NAASCU Seniors title and the fifth overall in school history since 2012.  They are currently on a 26-game winning streak with their last taste of defeat coming on opening day of the 17^th season August 17, 2017 against Philippine Christian University, 88-89, at the Cuneta Astrodome.

In other games, Our Lady of Fatima University rallied to take down winless AMA University, 71-56.  The Titans raced to a 20-6 lead after one period but the Phoenix refused to quit and rose to their third win in four games and stay half a game behind the Saints in Group A.

De La Salle Araneta University stepped up in the final three minutes to subdue Holy Angel University, 74-58, in the lone Group B game.  The Stallions evened their mark at 1-1 while the Guardians sank to 0-2.

Manuel L. Quezon University also climbed up the Group A standings at 2-2 and moved closer to a playoff appearance with their 73-62 blasting of City University of Pasay.  The 0-4 Eagles are in danger of missing the playoffs with their remaining assignments versus Saint Clare and AMA.