STI wins Game 1 of NAASCU Finals

William Vasallo sank three three pointers in the second quarter

Oscar Crisostomo sank a cold blooded three pointer in the last 35.5 seconds to give the STI College Olympians its first taste of the lead and eventually the win as the Olympians eked out a 75-72 win to take game 1 of the best of three series of the 8th National Athletic Association of SChools Colleges and Universities (NAASCU) at the Makati COliseum. Crisostomo also sank the insurance basket as the Olympians shutdown the Baycats offense by limiting them to just two free throws and at the same time forcing them to 5 turnovers and five missed three pointers in the last 5 minutes.

Vasallo on the Fastbreak

The Olympians started the game missing Michael Cabangon who just recently turned 24 plus two other casualties who were thrown out of the final four game against Lyceum - Arnold Danganan and Norman Ihalas. The Baycats exploited this manpower problem of the Olympians as Ray Alcasabas and Ric Gracilla sank triples, stole the ball and the rest of the Baycats scored in transition. Coach Vic Ycasiano never knew what hit him, after a tight first two minutes the Baycats ran and scored whilile the Olympians were missing free throws. The quarter ended with the Baycats with a commanding 15 point lead 26-11.

Macabasco scoops a shot

The Olympians then cut the lead into half thanks to the three point sniping of former Inter -STI MVP William Vasallo who sank three three pointers in the second quarter that gave the Olympians enough to come back to the game which ended 41-34. The third quarter was a game of spurts as the Baycats and the Olympians engaged in a running game with both teams scoring 18 points apiece. The Olympians would threaten to get back and then the Baycats would pull away. Ramon Mabayo underscored his strength by scoring on drives while the Baycats scores on fastbreaks.

Darryl Mendoza lays it in

In the fourth quarter, the Baycats started strong by hitting a three pointer after Ramon Mabayo had cut the lead to five, Alacasbas' three pointer put the Baycats again ahead by eight. Then with the Baycats safely ahead 70-61 and less than 5 minutes left, the Olympian guards presided over a crippling 15-2 run. After Ramon Mabayo put the Olympians to within five after scoring on a putback, Crisostomo drove to the hoop and attracted some defenders and passed the ball to Macky Macabasco who was free from the three point area. He previously missed a three pointer prior to that shot and he calmly sank this three pointer to cut the Baycats lead to two 68-70. WIth San Sebastian leading 72-70, Macky Macabasco returned the favor by attracting defenders and passing the ball to Oscar Crisostomo who also previously missed a three pointer, and Crisostomo buried the three pointer to break the backs of the Baycats and give the Olympians first blood in the series.

Ramon Mabayo scores

With three men out, the Olympians proved that their experience and heart were more than enough to squeeze the win as the Baycats choked in the endgame. Ric Gracilla was about to drive to give the lead back to SSC but he bungled the opportunity with a dribbling error. Their most consistent Center on the other hand Kris Lucernas bungled two important free throws that would have sent the game into overtime. This just shows the stuff that the Olympians are made of. Game two is on thursday..will the Olympians win it again, let the games begin.

STI COLLEGE ( 75)
Mabayo 20, Vasallo 20, Crisostomo 11, Aranzaso 6, Mendoza 5, Macabasco 5, Limpin 5, Washington 3, Daanoy 0, Daguplo 0, Sabellina 0

SAN SEBASTIAN COLLEGE (72)

Gracilla 18, Ray. Alcasabas 10, Lucernas 10, Basa 8, Escobal 8, Acain 8, Antipuesto 5, Pantonia 4, Villareal 1,Callado 0,

Quarters scores 11-26, 34-41, 52-59, 75-72