2 Naascu crowns for University of Manila cagers

MANILA, Philippines—University of Manila swept both divisions with nail-biting victories Wednesday in the National Athletics Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (Naascu) basketball tournament before a wild crowd at the Makati Coliseum.

Jeff Alvin Viernes, a 5-foot-8 guard, banged in 22 points and Eugene Torres added 19 as the defending champion Hawks turned back the STI Olympians, 69-66, to clinch their second straight men’s title and seventh overall.

Earlier, Ryansuke Oka connected on a perfect lob pass from Clarence Ludo as time expired to lift the Hawklets past the defending champion Fatima Baby Phoenix, 86-86, in overtime.

“It’s sweet victory for us. If last year people were saying our win was only a fluke, now we proved we’re for real,” said UM Hawks coach Jojo Castillo.

The 22-year-old Viernes also copped the season’s MVP honors for the Hawks, who only dropped one game throughout the season which came, ironically, at the hands of the Olympians during the inaugurals.

STI closed to within 66-68 with only 21.2 seconds behind Cedric Ablaza and Rama Morales but Jayson Ibay split his free throws in the last 14.3 seconds for the final count.

STI took the first quarter, 19-16, but UM turned things around at halftime, 38-31.

Informatics drubbed Centro Escolar, 84-59, to take third place in the seniors division, while AMA nipped St. Clare, 85-83, for third in the juniors bracket.

The scores:
Junior Division
UM 87—Oka 20, Santos 18, Marticio 17, Nicolas 17, Lugo 6, Baylen 5, Mateo 2, De Guzman 2, Mallari 0,
OLFU 84—Teodoro 26, Juanico 14, Estudillo 10, Gaddy 9, Pineda 9, Del Rosario 8, Lasquety 3, Cabrera 3, Mocon 2, Mendoza 0,
Quarters: 24-14, 47-29, 57-49, 73-73, OT 87-84.
Senior Division
UM 69—Viernes 24, Torres 20, Manuel 8, Rivera 8, Ancheta 8, Ibay 1, Ruiz 0,.
STI 66—Bautista 15, Sabellina 12, Ablaza 10, Gabo 8, Moreno 8, Melano 4, Morales 4, Ohandya 2, Riva 2, Bocablo 1, Ihalas 0, Chavez 0.
Quarters: 16-19, 38-31, 55-46, 69-66.