The trio of Winthrop Mangulabnan, Tommy Boy Medrano and Jovanie Jimenez fueled ELC to a commanding 5-1 lead before fourth man Marvin Corpuz came through with a game-winning late burst when Agro threatened at 4-6.
An underdog throughout the games, ELC stunned Davao Christian High School in the semifinals to arrange a championship duel with AHS, which crushed Holy Child School of Davao in the other semis contest.
"I told the boys to focus on defense and not to be rattled by the pressure, and we can win the championship," said ELC coach Erlito Urdaneta. "Eventually, we did."
ELC will join Cagayan de Oro chairman Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori School, Bacolod qualifier University of St. La Salle and Cebu leg titlist University of Cebu in the National Finals to be held in Manila in August.
"We know that the National Finals will be a tough battle, with our opponents surely having a height advantage over us. But we will do our best in defense and outside shooting. Hopefully, we can take the National title as well," added Urdaneta.
In preparation for the Metro Manila elims on the Nike 3-on-3 – the longest running and most prestigious high school basketball tournament of its kind – tournament director Tanny Gonzalez will be holding a Nike Coaches Workshop today at the Kalayaan 1 Function Room of the Club Filipino in San Juan.
The workshop, to be attended by representative coaches of 80 schools, begins promptly at 2 p.m.