SUBIC—Defending champion St. Clare College-Caloocan buried Rizal Technological University with an avalanche of baskets in the payoff period to hammer out an 75-60 win and clinch the top spot in Group A in the NAASCU Season 17 basketball tournament at the LSB gym in Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.
Led by MVP candidate Aris Dionisio and Rafael Rebugio, the Saints opened the fourth quarter with 19 straight points and limited the Blue Thunder to only one point to turn a precarious 52-50 lead after three periods into a commanding 71-51 advantage.
The Thunder, who kept the game close and interesting in the first three quarters, never recovered from there.
Four players, led by Dionisio and Rebugio, shone brightest for the Caloocan City-based Saints of NAASCU president Dr. Jay Adalem and coach Jino Manansala as they finished with a 6-1 win-loss record.
The Saints have won six straight games since dropping their opening-day assignment to Philippine Christian University last Aug. 17 at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Dionisio finished with a double-double of 14 points (on 6-of-11 shooting) and 14 rebounds for the Saints, who are notw assured of a quarterfinal round seat with a twice-to-beat advantage.
Rebugio added 12 points, five rebounds and four assists for the Saints, who are hoping to retain the title which they won in a three-game duel against Our Lady of Fatima University last year.
Kerr Hastley Bangeles finished with 18 points and seven rebounds for RTU, which dropped to 3-4.
Overall, St. Clare made 30 of its 76 shots from the floor, including 9-of-20 from the rainbow territory compared to RTU’s 22-of-80 and 5-of-18.
The Saints also had more rebounds (64-43), more assists (19-11) and more bl9cks (9-0) than the Johnedel Cardel-mentored Thunder.
Earlier, Holy Angel University outlasted De La Salle-Araneta University, 83-78, for its second win in five tries.
Leading men for HAU were Karl Christian Sampang (18 points) and Carlo Candelaria (17 points, five rebounds, five assists)
Jonas Briones led the way for DLSAU with 20 puntos and 11 rebounds.
PBA legend Pido Jarencio is the commissioner.