PMMS outlasts Olivarez in NCRAA basketball finals Game 1

MANILA, Philippines—Reigning Interscholastic champion Philippine Merchant Marine School leaned on Jess Nicole Quilatan, Rocky Antonares and Kevin Manlutac to repulse Olivarez College in double overtime, 87-85, Monday in Game 1 of the NCRAA men’s basketball title series at Makati Coliseum.

The Mariners bucked tremendous pressure to frustrate the Sea Lions, who wasted several chances in regulation and the first extra time.

Quilatan and Manlutac masterfully presided over the Mariners swashbuckling plays, while the 6-foot-4 Antonares controlled the shaded lane to ice the victory.

‘‘A very hard win,” said PMMS coach Aldrin Morante. “We still need to take the next game. Olivarez is raring to bounce back.”

Game 2 is set March 2 at 2:30 p.m. The Sea Lions got 22 points from Mark Andrew Ollano.

In women’s basketball, National State Colleges and Universities titlist Rizal Technological U crushed Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite, 79-47, to take the opener of their own title series.

The scores:

PMMS 87—Quilatan 16, Antonares 16, Manlutac 12, Yagonia 11, Trinidad 9, Chan 6, Matillano 5, Debulcos 5, Pasia 4, Flor 2, Montojo 1.

OLIVAREZ 85—Ollano 22, Bermudez 17, Bustos 16, Martinez 16, Magbitang 9, Saguiguit 3, Begaso 2.

Quarters: 24-13, 37-24, 56-42, 66-66, 78-78, 87-85