By: Anthony Servinio
(Original article from: https://servssports.wordpress.com/2020/01/24/pccl-diliman-d-saint-clare-95-88-ot/)
MANILA – It will be Diliman College continuing further into the 2019 National Collegiate Championship after they topped the NCR Eliminations at the expense of Saint Clare College of Caloocan in overtime, 95-88, at the Paco Arena Friday afternoon. Robbi Darang and Abdoulaye Niang starred for the back to back champions of the Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) who will now gird for battle against other champion varsities from Luzon in Naga City next month in the annual search for the one national champion of collegiate Basketball.
Saint Clare’s Joseph Penaredondo forced overtime after a running triple with six seconds left in regulation, 82-82. Come the extra period, veteran forward Johnnel Bauzon took over with back to back baskets to break the 86-86 tie and Billshan Digno hit a dagger triple as the Saints collapsed the final three minutes with Bauzon capping the game with the exclamation two-handed dunk.
A good start was all that was needed for the Blue Dragons of Coach Rensy Bajar as Darang and Niang had eight points each and John Zeus Pedrosa added seven off the bench for the 26-10 first period lead. Niang and Bauzon continued the assault in the second as they enjoyed several 18-point leads before settling down for the 48-31 halftime edge.
Saint Clare though refused to quit and came roaring back in the second half with Clarrence Tiquia and Jan Dominic Formento bombing away from three-point distance with scoring support from Johnsherick Estrada. However, the Saints’ rally hit a snag after Mohamed Pare was thrown out after incurring his second unsportsmanlike foul on Niang with still 2:30 to go in the third and Diliman hanging on by five, 60-55.
Pare exited the game with only six points but his teammates continued to claw back with Formento finally tying the game with a triple at the three-minute mark, 77-77. The Saints failed to capitalize as they began firing away from three-point distance with their misses leading to scores from Darang and Bauzon until Penaredondo’s heroics came.
Darang, the Most Valuable Player of the Fourth UCBL Finals, played with almost no relief to churn out 26 points followed by Niang with 17 despite going scoreless in the fourth and overtime. Bauzon was next with 16 points, six made in the overtime.
Formento topped the Saints with 17 points. John Edcel Rojas supported him with 14 points while Penaredondo, Tiquia and Estrada all had 12 points each.
The Blue Dragons entered Friday’s game after tournament officials nullified the 79-74 win of La Consolacion College-Manila due to ineligible players the other day. On the other hand, Saint Clare toppled Centro Escolar University, 80-68.
How They Scored:
DILIMAN (95) – Darang 26, Niang 17, Bauzon 16, Ligon 9, Digno 9, Gandjeto 8, Pedrosa 8, Navalon 2, Sombero 0, Pacheco 0, Tay 0, Binayao 0.
SAINT CLARE (88) – Formento 17, Rojas 14, Penaredondo 12, Tiquia 12, Estrada 12, Manacho 6, Fontanilla 6, Pare 6, Victoriano 2, Lopez 1, Boac 0, Bah 0.
Period Scores: 26-10, 48-31, 64-59, 82-82 (reg.), 95-88 (OT)