Naascu finals opener: St. Clare noses out CEU

GAMES TOMORROW

(Makati Coliseum)

7:30 a.m.—CEU vs. RTU (W)

9 a.m.—CEU vs. OLFU (Jrs)

10:30 a.m.—CEU vs. St. Clare (Srs)

ST. CLARE downed Centro Escolar, 70-68, yesterday and moved within a win of retaining  the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (Naascu) men’s basketball championship at Makati Coliseum.

With the Saints leading by one at 69-68 with two seconds left, Elmer Managuelod sank the first of two free throws  then deliberately missed the second, which led to a scramble for loose ball as time expired.

“Now we are one game closer to our goal we are not letting anything to go between us and the crown on Friday,” said St. Clare coach Jinno Manansala whose charges finally beat the Scorpions for the first time this season  in Game 1 of their best-of-three series.

Only the defunct teams of University of Manila and San Sebastan-Cavite were able to post successive title romps so far.

The Saints, who earlier shaved their heads to show their hunger for the title, played an inspired game against the Scorpions, the heavy title favorites after sweeping all 11 elimination games.

Jayson Ibay powered St. Clare with 22 points, while Managuelod finished with 14. Marc Robin Dulalia had a breakthrough game with 13 points, while ace playmaker Marte Gil also starred with 10 points and 12 assists.

The Scorpions got big numbers from Aaron Jerota who had 18 points, Joseph Sedurifa with 14, and Rodrigue Ebondo with 10 points and 15 rebounds.

Earlier, CEU took Game 1 over Rizal Technological, 77-36, in the women’s title series, while the Fatima Baby Phoenix shocked the Baby Scorpions, 67-60, in Game 1 of the junior finals. Marc Anthony Reyes