STI College beats AMACU 80 - 70

Maclean Sabellina and Mark Macalindan battling for position

The diesel powered STI College Olympians proved that they have enough firepower to finish off rival school AMA Computer University in their first encounter this year as the Olympians beat the Titans 80 -70 at the resumption of the 9^th NAASCU Basketball tournament at the Centro Escolar Gym in Mendiola. The Olympians, together with defending champion San Sebastian College Cavite and Informatics International College, are the only remaining teams unbeaten with identical records of 3 wins and zero losses.

Maclean with a break away dunk

In this game, the Titans started like a house on fire as they raced to a 5-1 lead in the first four minutes of the game as the hapless Olympians started throwing the ball and firing blanks against the Titans. The Olympians regrouped and finally sank a field goal after the stingy AMACU defense allowed them to score to cut the lead to one 7 -6 with less than 5 minutes to go in the 1^st quarter. Rookie forward Jerald Bautista and center Martin Antonio energized the Olympians as they kept the Titans at bay with their timely hits. Bautista’s lane incursions gave the Olympians some breathing room as the quarter ended with the Titans on top 15-13.

Macky Macabasco drives to the hoop

Two new faces in the Olympians roster are two 6-3 power forwards from STI College Balagtas, Cedric Ablaza and Paulo Villadoz. Both players underscored their strength underneath as they battled the Titans big men when regular starters Maclean Sabellina and Martin Antonio were on the bench. The second quarter was a see-saw battle for both teams as the Olympians and Titans would not give each other room to break away. The Olympians finally caught up with the Titans as the inside plays of Bautista, Antonio and rookie Cedric Ablaza gave the Olympians their first taste of the lead at 19 – 18.

Cedrick Ablaza floats in mid air

Unfortunately for the Olympians, when they were trying to break away after scoring four straight baskets, the Titans battled back by scoring on two break away fastbreaks to seize the upperhand again 24-23 with 3:27 left to play in the half. The Olympians shock troopers then took control once again as Tom Washington scored three points after sinking a free and scoring on a field goal off his own free throw miss that energized the STI five anew. The Olympians then went ahead again 26-24 with less than two minutes left. Then the Titans dropped a 7-2 bomb to take the half 31 – 28.

Jen Reyes drives to the hoop

By this time the Olympians have had enough with their poor first half showing. After coasting through the first 20 minutes of play, STI suddenly put their gears to overdrive to catch up with the Titans and level the score at 31 – all after one and a half minutes. After that it was an all STI show as the Olympians five on the floor consisting of Jerald Bautista, Martin Antonio, Norman Ihalas, Maclean Sabellina and Macky Macabasco punctured the hoops to give the Olympians a 42 – 36 lead with 3:10 to play in the quarter. The vaunted half court zone defense of the Olympians produced wonders as the Titans faltered from beyond the arc. This time around it was the Olympians turn to give a fiery wind up as Norman Ihalas put the icing on the cake when he scored on a three pointer after barely crossing the half court that gave the Olympians a comfortable 53 – 46 lead.

Jerald Bautista with a left handed lay up

The fourth quarter started with a three pointer coming from Mark Orias that gave the Olympians their first double digit lead at 56- 46. After that, the Olympians were not yet satisfied as they made another 10 -2 run that gave them their biggest lead of 18 points at 66-48 with less than 7 minutes left in the game. After that, the Olympians and Titans exchanged baskets as the STI team was poised to put the game beyond recall with 4 minutes left. But then again, the Titans refused to buckle as they proved that they have one last push in them.

Jen Reyes fouls Jed Maravilla

With the Olympians comfortably ahead 68 – 54 and 3:37 left in the ball game, AMACU guard Sander Salvador suddenly caught fire as he brought back the Titans single handedly. Salvador scored 15 points as he hit three 3 pointers, two field goals and two free throws inside three minutes to rally the Titans as they came to within six points 76-70 with a little over 30 seconds left in the ballgame. Unfortunately for them, Martin Antonio and Jerald Bautista conspired to give the Olympians a fiery wind up as they ran away with the 80 – 70 win. The Olympians outscored the Titans 52 – 39 in the second half and if not for the hot hands of Salvador the Titans would have been blown away. Top scoring for the Olympians is Martin Antonio with 17 markers.

Martin Antonio scores on this lay in

STI COLLEGE (80)

Antonio 17, Bautista 14, Ablaza 13, Ihalas 12, Sabellina 6, Cariño 4, Villadoz 4, Reyes 3, Orias 3, Washington 3, Po 0, Macabasco 0,

AMACU (70)

Salvador 19, Maravilla 12, Bernardo 11, Nicolas 8, Mangalindan 7, Regala 5, Tan 2 Cabico 2, Masigan 0, BOnifacio 0, Abjear 0,

Quarterscores: 13 -15, 28 – 31, 53 – 46, 80 - 70