RTU cops UCAA title over Olivarez; La Salle-Dasma third

MANILA, Philippines - Rennel Montecillo scored six of his 17 points in the last 30 seconds, lifting Rizal Technological University to a 66-62 win over defending champion Olivarez College yesterday at their own home-court – the RTU gymnasium in Mandaluyong.

Meanwhile, Clifford Castro made 29 points, including two free throws in the last 11 seconds, which carried the La Salle-Dasmariñas Patriots to third place following an 88-85 win over the Philippine School of Business Administration Jaguars.

 Aries Dionisio hit 30 points for the Jaguars.

The endgame heroics of the 22-year-old Montecillo handed the Blue Thunder their first-ever crown in the 12th Universities and Colleges Athletic Association (UCAA) men’s basketball tournament.

Jopet Quiro, who took most valuable player honors, led RTU with 22 points as the Blue Thunder finished their best-of-three title series with a two-game sweep of the Sea Lions.

 The Blue Thunder looked safely ahead at 60-56 following Ronnie Mayuyo’s driving shot in the last 1:13. But they got a scare from the Sea Lions when Franklin Mancio unloaded a trey with 50.1 ticks to go as Olivarez College closed the gap, 59-60.

 Montecillo’s jumper to the right flank, followed by his two charities off Mark Guillen’s fifth foul kept RTU ahead, 64-59, in the last 21 seconds.

 But as the Sea Lions threatened anew at 62-64 behind Eldridge Corpus’s trey in the remaining 9.1 seconds, Montecillo sank both his charities in the last 7.3 seconds to keep the Blue Thunder on top by four in the remaining time.

 â€œI’m speechless over this. This is my first title, as a first-time coach of a college team at that. The boys played with a big heart. Nagtiwala ako sa kanila at nagtiwala rin sila sa akin,” said RTU coach Johnedel Cardel, who was part of the La Salle team that won a grand slam University Athletic Association of the Philippines crown from 1989 to 1991.

 Guillen led the Sea Lions with 13 points, while Corpuz had 11.

 Last Monday, Helino Francisco banged in the winning basket with no time left to lead the Blue Thunder to a 63-61 overtime edging of the Sea Lions in Game 1 at the Olivarez College gymnasium in Sucat, Parañaque.