Centro Escolar U escaped with an 85-83 decision over hard-fighting St. Clare yesterday to force a deciding Game 3 in their men’s basketball championship showdown in the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (Naascu) tournament at Makati Coliseum.
The defending champion Scorpions leaned on an aggressive full-court press in the final eight seconds to prevent the Saints from launching a final attempt and tie the series.
St. Clare earlier dethroned CEU as juniors champion with a similar 74-73 squeaker, thanks to a free throw by Steve Fongue and a put-back by Ramil Tero in the last six seconds.
It was the second juniors crown for the Baby Saints, who also derailed the Baby Scorpions’ quest for a third straight title.
But CEU kept the women’s division title as it demolished Rizal Technological University , 75-61.
The Scorpions, who won last year by taking the rubber match against the same Saints, opened a 79-69 lead with seven minutes left before St. Clare mounted a rally and came within 83-85 with 34 seconds remaining.
CEU’s Joseph Sedurifa and St. Clare’s Marte Gil also got involved in a shoving incident. Both were both slapped technical fouls.
The men’s scores:
CEU 85—Abundo 26, Ebondo 17, Sedurifa 9, Celso 8, De Leon 8, Batino 6, Jeruta 6, Opiso 5, Amil 0, Casino 0, Anunciacion 0, Banua 0.
ST CLARE 83—Ibay 17, Managuelod 14, Jamito 11, Mendoza 10, Gil 10, Ibarra 8, Redoh 7, Acebron 3, Lunor 2, Ambulodto 1, Dulalia 0.
Quarters: 23-23, 45-43, 71-66, 85-83