Saints near 12-game sweep in NCRAA

Games Tuesday (RTU gymnasium, Mandaluyong)

9 a.m. – PSBA vs Olivarez College

10:30 a.m. – EAC-Cavite vs RTU

12 noon St. – Clare vs DLSU-Dasmariñas

1:30 p.m. – St. Clare vs DLSU-Dasmariñas (women)

3 p.m. – PMMS vs EAC-Cavite (women)

MANILA, Philippines - The  St. Clare Saints picked the right moment to turn on the heat as they outplayed the Philippine School of Business Administration Jaguars, 91-74, yesterday at the Rizal Technological University gymnasium in Mandaluyong.

The Saints struck hard late in the second period and early in the third en route to their 11th straight win in the 21st National Capital Region Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.

St. Clare moved a win shy of an automatic finals berth and will have a chance to complete a 12-game sweep of the elimination round when it takes on La Salle-Dasmariñas at 12 noon   Tuesday, also at the RTU gymnasium.

Jayson Ibay led the Saints with 23 points as he took turns with Gil Marte, Eric Acuña and Darwin Lunor in giving the Saints double-digit margins in the second half.

With the Jaguars threatening at 36-41, Ibay’s back-to-back baskets in the last 47.2 seconds allowed St. Clare to grab a 41-36 halftime edge.

Turnovers forced by Acuña and point guard John Acebron with their steals sparked an 11-2 run at the beginning of the second half.

Marte, Acuña, Lunor and Ibay then scored in succession, handing the Saints a 76-59 advantage with 5:11 left.

In another match, Jeoffrey Acain unloaded 23 points for the Patriots, who edged the Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite Vanguards, 73-68.