SHS-Ateneo in great escape Magis Eagles turn back UV to retain NBTC crown

CEBU, Philippines - The Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles staged a great escape in a 96-92 overtime conquest of the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers to successfully defend their title in the Seaoil National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) Elite League the other night at the USC-Main gym.

Down by 11 points at the final 2:44 mark of the regulation period, 72-83, the Magis Eagles displayed a courageous fightback, with Rendell Senining igniting a 10-0 blitz that pulled them within just hairline, 82-83, with 56.3 seconds left to play.

After Andres Paul Desiderio split his charities to put UV on top by two, 86-64, Arnie Padilla made a crucial hit to knot the count at 86-all with 3.2 seconds to go, thus, sending the game into overtime.

Leonard Santillan gave the Baby Lancers a one-point edge, 87-86, to start the extra five-minute period, but Henric Dawn Ochea suddenly caught fire and imposed his dominance at the paint as the Magis Eagles took control of the match.

After Arc Gabriel Araw-araw hit a buzzer-beating trey to give the Magis Eagles a 94-90 edge, the Baby Lancers threatened for the last time at 92-94 as Araw-araw made a smart move scoring on a floater to peg the final tally.

Ochea, a big factor during the final stretch, topscored for the Magis Eagles with 23 points, while Senining and Araw-araw, the finals MVP, banged in 18 and 16 points, respectively.

Desiderio paced UV with 30 points followed by Ralph Dinolan with 20 markers in a losing cause. (FREEMAN)

The scores

SHS-AdC (96) - Ochea 23, Senining 18, Araw-araw 16, Padilla 10, Galvez 8, Igna 5, Jaboneta 5, Competente 5, Laguyo 4, Ecarma 2

UV (92) - Desiderio 30, Dinolan 20, Santillan 11, Manzo 8, Canete 6, Escalona 6, Limitares 5, Dela Cerna 4. Fernandez 2