St. Dominic College of Asia continued to make waves in the NCRAA men’s basketball tournament Season 30 and the Pikemen added defending champion Immaculada Concepcion College to their growing list of victims following a tense 56-53 win at the PATTS Gymnasium.
PATTS College of Aeronautics completed a series of upsets on Monday as the Seahorses dealt the AIMS Blue Sharks their first ever loss in the tournament with a thrilling 75-74 squeaker.
Joshua Bongon completed a steal and capped his heroics with a go-ahead basket in the final six seconds, allowing the Seahorses to escape with the win and send the Blue Sharks their first loss in six games.
The up and coming Pikemen outlasted the Blue Hawks in a highly-emotional encounter that saw players engaging in heated verbal exchanges and had to be pacified repeatedly.
ICC had several chances of pulling off a win but Totoy Ramirez and Jared Vento, two of the Blue Hawks’ key players, were not able to hit crucial shots that would have turned the outcome to their favor.
With St. Dominic protecting a two-point lead, 55-53, Ramirez was sent to the foul line with 1:12 left in the game, but the usually cool and calculating guard missed both charities.
Ramirez had a chance to redeem himself, but he also missed a short stab that would have tied the count.
Down the stretch, Vento also had his turn of trying to change the fortunes of the Blue Hawks, but even the easiest shot wouldn’t fall.
Ed Daquioag sealed the outcome with his split charities as ICC’s desperation heave failed to hit the mark as the final buzzer sounded.
It was the fourth win in seven games for the Pikemen, who are enjoying their finest season since joining the league under the tutelage of new coach Bong dela Cruz, a former star player in the PABL and former coach of University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP.
Also winning Monday were University of Luzon, which defeated Lyceum of the Philippines-Laguna, 82-72, Olivarez College dumping Bestlink College of the Philippines, 90-76.
