CEDRIC Ablaza struck with a 15-footer with just 0.2 second left as the STI Olympians snapped the unbeaten run of the St. Clare Saints with a 71-70 decision Saturday that completed the Final Four cast in the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (Naascu) men’s basketball tournament at C.P. Tinga Hall in Taguig.
Following an inbound miscue by St. Clare, STI’s Storm Riva drew a double team, freeing up Ablaza, the 6-foot-5 former D-League player, who received the pass and calmly nailed the game-clincher.
STI’s eighth victory in 11 outings spoiled the Saints’ 10-game winning run and their bid to enter the finals outright.
St. Clare dropped into a tie for first at 10-1 with Centro Escolar, which clobbered Amacu, 69-52.
Angelo Leo Roncal scattered 20 points as New Era stopped Fatima, 79-71, in the other seniors game and improved to a fourth-best 4-7 record.
Ablaza finished with seven points behind the 12 of Lester Bocablo and 11 from MacLean Sabellina.
Jeff Viernes topscored for St. Clare with 24 points, while Eugene Torres had 21.
The Saints’ slotman Jammer Jamito made 12 points, including a basket at close range that put his team within 70-69, 45 seconds left.
The Senior scores:
Third Game
NEW ERA 79—Roncal 20, Sarmiento 17, Sevilla 12, Herradura 8, Santos 8, Reynoso 6, Faner 4, Bebit 2, Cabacungan 2.
OLFU 71—Jornacion 14, Villalon 13, Enriquez 11, Pineda 10, Ignacio 7, Banaria 4, Jimenez 4, Rosales 3, Datu 3, Vadevilla 2, Antalan 0, Ananayo 0, Cubo 0, Retonda 0.
Quarters: 22-22, 45-34, 63-55, 79-71
Fourth Game
CEU 69—Magbitang 10, De leon 10, Garcia 8, Pedrosa 8, Batino 7, Pagkatipunan 6, Guillen 5, Abundo 2, Beldad 2, Batiancela 0, Taclas 0, Lamosa 0, Banua 0, Martinez 0, Barcede 0.
AMACU 52—Ballesteros 17, Matias 13, Discipulo 8, Cruz 4, Arceo 3, Angeles 2, Puspus 2, Gile 2, Jordan 1, Villena 0, Bansil 0, Magpantay 0, Quiambao 0.
Quarters: 15-7, 32-29, 55-42, 69-52
Fifth Game
STI 71—Bocablo 12, Sabellina 11, Morales 10, Francisco 9, Ablaza 7, Chavez 7, Moraga 5, Ohandja 4, Moreno 4, Riva 2, Labis 0, Ortega 0.
ST.CLARE 70—Viernes 24, Torres 21, Jamito 12, Lunor 6, Santos 4, Managuelod 2, Gil 1, Torres P. 0, Ambulodto 0.
Quarters: 22-24, 34-31, 52-55, 71-70