MANILA, Philippines - La Salle-Dasmariñas pounced on Philippine School of Business Administration’s two turnovers in overtime as it carved out a 91-84 victory to clinch a semifinal berth in the 19th National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) men’s basketball tournament at the Olivarez gym in Parañaque recently.
Carlos Tabaquero scored on a drive while Manuel Sebastian hit a triple in the extra period and the Patriots went on to outscore the Jaguars, 14-7, and notch their third win in six games for the third semis seat, edging the Rizal Technological University Blue Thunder due to a higher tiebreak record.
Jeoffrey Acain showed the way for the Patriots with 27 points, while Jeffrey Manuel drilled in 25 points in the cagefest supported by Mikasa, Molten balls and ANI AgriNurture, Inc.
The Patriots overcame a 14-point (44-58) deficit in the fourth quarter and grabbed the lead at 77-75, but Ken Arce sneaked in a layup with 6.1 seconds left to force overtime.
The Blue Thunder, who forfeited their won game against the Jaguars last Jan. 5, settled for No. 4 following a 64-62 win over the PATTS College of Aeronautics Sea Horses.
School officials, led by NCRAA president Gerry Sergio of host DSLU-Dasmarinas, ruled a forfeiture of the Blue Thunder’s 59-40 win over the Jaguars in a meeting last Monday.
Sergio said after reviewing the league’s rules that RTU abandoned the contest and chose not to return to action after one of its players sustained an injury.
PSBA took the fifth spot with a 2-4 slate, while the sixth and last berth is still being disputed by PATTS and Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite.
The Philippine Merchant Marine School Mariners clinched the top seeding with the Olivarez College Sea Lions gaining the No. 2 spot. The No. 3 team battles the No. 6 squad in the semis, while the fourth seed takes on the fifth-ranked squad. Winners will take on the Mariners and the Sea Lions.