PMMS, RTU score NCRAA cliffhangers

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Merchant Marine School held off Philippine School of Business Administration, 73-68, while Rizal Technological University nipped La Salle-Dasmarinas, 70-69, in a pair of cliffhangers in the National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) men’s basketball tournament in Dasmariñas, Cavite yesterday.

The Mariners, behind Mark Trinidad’s two free throws in the last 5.2 seconds, held off the Philippine School of Business Administration Jaguars, 73-68, at the Ugnayang La Salle gymnasium inside the DLSU-Dasmariñas campus.

The Blue Thunder, leaning on the fourth-quarter heroics of Tristan Pagente, escaped with a 70-69 verdict over the La Salle-Dasmariñas Patriots in the cagefest supported by Mikasa and Molten Balls, and ANI AgriNurture, Inc. 

Trinidad, who had 17 points, put the Mariners out of reach with his charities in the last 5.2 seconds, allowing PMMS to march to their fifth consecutive win and a share of the lead with the Olivarez College Sea Lions. Elmar Moradas topscored for the Mariners, who are in contention with Sea Lions for the top two semis slots.

Meanwhile, Pagente, who had eight points in the last canto, sank a triple with 1:14 left, and then kept the ball in RTU’s possession with his steal after the Patriots bungled two good chances to score in the endgame.

The Blue Thunder hiked their record to 3-1 to also boost their bid of making it to the semis. Last Thursday, the Blue Thunder came away with a 66-55 beating of the Emilio Aguinaldo-Cavite Vanguard, with Jopet Quiro scoring 12 points.

In men’s volleyball, PMMS prevailed over RTU, 25-18, 25-18, 25-17, while the La Salle-Dasmarinas Patriots upended the EAC-Cavite Vanguard, 25-18, 25-9, 23-25, 25-16, to keep their grip on the top spot with their fourth straight wins. Olivarez College (2-2) took four sets to turn back PATTS College of Aeronautics, 21-25, 25-14, 21-25, 25-16, 15-13.