DEFENDING champion St. Clare College-Caloocan rode on the superb, all-around game of Aris Dionisio to overwhelm De Ocampo Memorial College, 101-79, and move to within a win of retaining the title in the NAASCU Season 17 men’s basketball tournament at the San Andres Sports Complex.
The Saints took the fight out of the erstwhile unbeaten Cobras with two long scoring splurges bridging the third and fourth quarters to clinch the win in the opener of their best-of-three title showdown.
Dionisio, the Saints’ undisputed leader on both ends of the floor, threw his weight around with 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting and 13 rebounds in nearly 34 minutes.
The 6’4” Dionisio, who earned MVP honors during St. Clare’s successful title campaign last year, struck hardest with 11 second-quarter points to help the Saints take control of the game.
Junjie Hallare, Paeng Rebugio and Mohamed Pare also put up big numbers for the Caloocan City-based Saints, who can wrap up the title with another victory in Game 2 on Thursday.
Hallare added 20 points, Rebugio contributed 15 points and Pare had 10 points and 14 rebounds for the Saints of NAASCU president Dr. Ernesto Jay Adalem and coach Jino Manansala.
Dahrrel Caranguian carried the fight for De Ocampo with 22 points, followed by Raymart Atabay with 12 points.
But no other player managed to score in double figures for De Ocampo, which stayed in the thick of the fight until the opening minutes of the fourth quarter.
The Ronnie Dojillo-mentored Cobras suffered their first setback after winning nine straight games in the elimination and semifinal rounds.
Overall, St. Clare made 41 of its 77 shots for 53 percent compared to only 33-of 78 for 42 percent.
The Saints also had more rebounds ( 52-36), more assists (16-13) more steals (12-7) and more blocks (5-2).
In the junior division, Our Lady of Fatima toppled St. Clare, 86-83, to gain the headstart in their own best-of-three series.
Danzel James Gomez scattered 22 points, including a three-point shot that put OLFU ahead, 84-83, with 29 seconds left.
Nikko Polo Panganiban added 20 points and nine rebounds for the Baby Phoenix of coach Ralph Emerson Rivera.
Prince Casin led St. Clare’s losing effort with 23 points and eight rebounds, while Joshua Fontanilla had 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
The scores:
Juniors
Fatima (86)– Gomez 22, Panganiban 20, Hoyohoy 12, Diaz 10, Dalupang 9, Pastrana 8, Santiago 3, Abila 2, Leguin 0.
St.Clare (83) — Casin 23, Fontanilla 21, Peñaredondo 10, Reyes 10, Jumaquio 6, Victoriano 6, Sienes 6, Biteng 1, Junio 0
Quarterscores: 23-12, 42-36, 66-62, 86-83.
Seniors
St. Clare (101) – Dionisio 27, Hallare 20, Rebugio 15, Pare 10, Mendoza 9, Palencia 9, Alcober 5, Rubio 2, De Leon 2, De Mesa 1, Principe 1.
DOMC (79) – Caranguian 22, Atabay 12, Clarito 9, Sabasaje 6, Manalang 6, Artesano 5, Ramos 4, Dela Cruz 3, Montojo 3, Cañelas 3, Lescano 2, Pascual 2, Fabro 2.
Quarterscores: 18-13, 42-36, 67-57, 101-79