ST. CLARE fought back from a mid-game collapse to bring down Lyceum of Subic Bay, 96-85, Sunday in the National Athletics Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (Naascu) men’s basketball tournament at Rizal Technological University Gym.
The Saints piled up a 20-point lead entering the third period but quickly encountered a slack when Nigerian big man Steve Fongue got into foul trouble and had to be rested.
Sensing blood, the Sharks launched an attack to take a 62-61 lead late in the period.
“We relaxed our defense after [Fongue’s] fourth foul,” said coach Jinno Manansala, whose squad can still join idle Fatima on top at 10-3 with a win over De Ocampo Memorial College last night.
The victory was the ninth in 12 outings for the Saints while the loss was the fourth in 13 games for the Sharks.
Ronjay Santos and Paeng Rebugio kept the Saints above water as the victors regained a 67-66 lead heading into the fourth period.
Santos scored 24 and Rebugio had 20 for St. Clare, which also drew inspired performances from Jordan Rios and Bong Managuelod who chipped in 18 and 10, respectively.
In the other game, the AMA Titans (4-9) held off Colegio de San Lorenzo, 91-90, to cap their season. The Griffins closed out at 5-8.