ONE team is seeking to begin a new destiny, while the other is hoping to win its first title in only its second year in the league.
Against this backdrop, defending champion St. Clare College-Caloocan and De Ocampo Memorial College begin their best-of-three title showdown in the NAASCU Season 17 men’s basketball tournament at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila.
Game time is 4 p.m. with odds about even between the Saints and the Cobras, the two two best teams since the start of the prestigious 16-team competition last Aug. 17.
“We’ll do our best (to win the title). The boys are focused on only one goal even before the start,” said St. Clare coach Jino Manansala, who is hoping to give the Caloocan-based Saints their title in six years.
“It’s a different ballgame now, but we have to continue to bring our best and dethrone the defending champions,” said De Ocampo coach Ronnie Dojillo.
St. Clare will lean anew on reigning NAASCU MVP Aris Dionisio, Pareng Rebugio, Junji Hallare, Earvin Mendoza, Irven Palencia, Joshua Escober, Mark Puspus, Raymond Rubio, Russel Fuentes, Michael de Leon, CJ Catura, Nash Gonzales, Raymart Lumabas, Joy de Mesa, Nico Principe and Republic of Mali exchange student Mohamed Pare.
De Ocampo will rely on Dahrrel Caranguian, Jhonard Clarito, Igi Boy Sabasaje, Raymart Atabay, Redel Fabro, Tyrone de la Cruz, Peter Manalang, Angelo Ramos, Brian Gallardo, John Pascual, EJ Canelas, Arnel Gutierrez, Japhet Montojo, Jomar Wenceslao and Harold Lescano.
Both St. Clare and De Ocampo topped their respective groups during the elimination round with the Saints finishing with a 6-1 win-loss record in Group A and the Cobras completing a seven-game sweep in Group B.
St. Clare also defeated Enderun College, 95-63, in the quarterfinals and Colegio de San Lorenzo, 77-74 and 78-70 in the semis, while De Ocampo also won over Philippine Merchant Marine School, 102-97, in the quarterfinals and St. Francis of Assisi College, 75-73 and 81-65, in the semis.
In other games, it will be Enderun College against Rizal Technological University at 12 noon; and St. Clare against Fatima University in the junior finals at 2 p.m.
Games Oct. 9
(San Andres Sports Complex)
12 noon — Enderun vs RTU (W)
2 p.m. — OLFU vs St. Clare (J)
4 p.m. — De Ocampo vs St. Clare (S)