LAST year’s runner-up Our Lady of Fatima University and Philippine Merchant Marine School pulled off hard-earned victories over their respective opponents to complete the quarterfinal cast in the NAASCU Season 17 men’s basketball tournament at the San Andres Sports Complex in Malate.
OLFU rode on Rommel Diosa’s three-point shot with 2.2 seconds left to subdue Lyceum of Subic Bay and arrange a quarterfinal showdown against Group runner-up St. Francis of Assisi College.
PMMS held off New Era University, 80-73, to earn the right to meet Group B topnotcher De Ocampo Memorial College in the Final Eight.
Both St. Francis and De Ocampo enjoy twice-to-beat advantages.
In the other quarterfinals, it will be defending champion St. Clare College-Caloocan against Enderun College and Colegio de San Lorenzo against Philippine Christian University.
Like De Ocampo and SFAC, St. Clare and CdSL have twice-to-beat incentive.
Miguel Cabrera topscored with 25 points,
Andrei Albano added 18 points and Chris Essomba had 14 points,13 rebounds and three blocks for the Phoenix of coach Ralph Emerson Rivera.
Diosa, however, delivered the key baskets by hitting two huge three-pointers in the final three minutes.
His three-pointer from an assist by Cabrera with 2.2 seconds left came after Allen Formera of Lyceum tied the score with a putback with 13 seconds remaining.
Lyndon del Rosario and Formera ledvthe Sharks with 19and 15 points, respectively.
PMMS drew double-digit scores from Donmark Matillano (25 points), Aaron Morante (15 points) and Rocky Antonares (10 points, 14 rebounds) to eliminate New Era.
Clyde Tyrone Reyes paced New Era with 18 points, followed by Richard Velchez with 13 points and 10 rebounds and John Toba Akindele with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
PBA legend Pido Jarencio is the commissioner.
The scores:
First game
Fatima (86) – Cabrera 25, Albano 18, Essomba 14, Diosa 11, Sarona 11, Pedrosa 7, Datu 0, Bargola 0, Gozum 0.
LSB (83) – Del Rosario 19, Fomera 15, Castillo 12, Jacaban 11, Djilla 7, Saludo 6, Sunguad 5, Pelaez 4, Dan Luis 2, David 2.
Quarterscores: 21-17, 49-38, 66-62, 86-83.
Second game
PMMS (80) – Matillano 25, Morante 15, Antonares 10, Hilario 10, Mboe 8, Sunga 6, Gilbero 4, Bernardo 2, Villamayor 0.
NEU (73) – Reyes 18, Velchez 13, Akindele 12, Dela Cruz 10, Comia 6, Plema 6, Bringas 5, Absin 2, Asistio 1, Castillo 0.
Quarterscores: 18-13, 34-26, 60-48, 80-73.