Olympians get third win

Storm Riva orchestrates

Rivalries bring out the best in every team. There are times when you want to give up but adrenalin pumps you up because you’d rather lose to other teams than to your rivals.  That was what the STI College Olympians and the AMA University Titans both felt while they continue their rivalry at the resumption of the 12th season basketball games of the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU).  This time around, the Olympians once again lorded it over the Titans as they carved out a masterful     89 - 72       victory against their fiercest rivals.  The last time the Titans won against the Olympians was in the first round of 2008.

Moreno sinks this one

The Olympians started out the first quarter with their famous full-court pressure defense which resulted in an early 19 - 8 lead.  The Titans eventually found their groove and cut the lead as the first quarter ended with the taguig based squad ahead 25 -18.  The second quarter yielded the same results as Cedric Ablaza, Paul Dela Pena, Noel Ohandja, RK Morales and Storm Riva turned defensive gems into precious points and the Titans never knew what hit them with the Olympians ending the half with a 45 – 34 lead.

 Ablaza scores on an alley-hoop

The Titans did come back in the fourth quarter with former juniors star Jefferson Arceo carrying the fight. The Titans would cut the lead to nine 72 -63 but the Olympians went to Cedric Ablaza to end the game with more to spare. Ablaza topscored for the Olympians with 27 points while Paul dela Pena added nine and Abby Chavez, Elmer Labis, Noel Ohandja and Lester Bocablo all had eight points apiece to underscore the balance attack of the Olympians.

Bocablo on the fasbreak

A grim development happened at with 3 seconds to go in the third quarter when the Olympian’s Center Maclean Sabellina was called for a disqualifying foul after hitting a Titan with a closed fist. Sabellina was thrown out and will be suspended in their next game against the unbeaten Centro Escolar University Scorpions. 

Sabellina on the drive

The Scores:

STI COLLEGE (89)

Ablaza 27, Dela pena 9, Chavez 8,Labis 8, Ohandja 8, Bocablo 8, Morales 7, Moreno 6, Sabellina 4, Riva 2, Moraga 2, Saldana 0.

AMA (72)

Arceo 20, Matias 16, Discipulo 11, Ballesteros 8, Cruz 6, Jordan 4, Gile 4, Santos 3, Quimabao 0, Angeles 0, Tobias 0.

Quarterscores: 25 - 18, 45 - 34, 65 - 46, 89 - 72.