Multi-titled NCRAA champion Olivarez Sea Lions outlasted a pesky, hard-fighting St. Dominic College of Asia Pikemen, 52-51, in a thrilling encounter Monday at the Bestlink College of the Philippines in Novaliches, Quezon City.
A basket by Didoy Proel and a big stop at the other end by the Pikemen put themselves in the the thick of the fight as they have a chance to salvage a win, but Edward Daquioag’s short stab at the buzzer was nullified by the game officials and deprived SDCA an opportunity to grab the solo lead.
It was a thrilling finish that saw both squads waiting in anticipation for the game officials’ verdict after Daquioag, younger brother of former Philippine Basketball Association player Ed Daquioag, delivered the potential game-winning basket.
Unfortunately, the basket, which came almost simultaneously when the final horn sounded, was not counted by the officials as there was no tenths of a second in the game clock of the said venue, allowing the Sea Lions to escape with a win.
By winning via a skin of their teeth, the Sea Lions booked an early win in this tournament and joined Immaculada Concepcion College and AIMS.
The Blue Hawks, the league’s defending champions, walloped Philippine Merchant Marine School, 104-82, while the Blue Sharks of AIMS edged Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite, 80-74.
John Umali was the lone double-digit scorer for the Sea Lions with 14 points as Olivarez shot a woeful 24.6% from the field (16-of-65), yet lucky enough to survive a Pikemen team that was looking to surpass last season’s finish.
SDCA, on the other hand, also shot terribly from the field, making only 17-of-67 (25.4%), but was able to outrebound Olivarez, 61-47, as the Pikemen’s extraordinary effort in crashing the boards kept them in the game.
As expected, Proel was the lone bright spot offensively for SDCA as he tallied 19 markers for the Bong dela Cruz-mentored squad.
