Olivarez College reaches NCRAA finals

The Olivarez College Sea Lions leaned heavily on their defense at the perimeter to frustrate the Technological Institute of the Philippines Engineers, 69-62, on Tuesday, Jan. 19,  and claimed their first ever finals stint in the 17th National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) men’s basketball tournament.

    The Sea Lions forced the Engineers to seven big turnovers during a five-minute stretch of the last quarter, and they made sure that they stayed out of reach by seven points in the  ensuing play of their semifinals rubber match at their own home turf at the Olivarez College gym in Sucat, Paranaque.

    A 71-68 triumph over the Engineers last Friday at the TIP court in Quiapo enabled the Sea Lions to put the contest in a deciding semis match since TIP wielded a twice-to-beat incentive in this cagefest which is supported  by Mikasa and Molten Balls.

    Mark Philip de la Cruz put in a gamehigh 14 points, including two split free throws with 4:13 left which allowed the Sea Lions to keep their distance, 58-56.

    School owner Dr. Pablo Olivarez and Paranaque councilor Eric Olivarez cheered the team on, and watched as a triple from Liberian cager John Corneh and a drive from John Lascunas with 1:43  to gave the Sea Lions enough cushion to pull of the win, 63-56.

    The Engineers, who finished second in the elimination round, gambled with their outside shooting in the end, and bungled three-point attempts as the Sea Lions went on to arrange a finals showdown with the Rizal Technological University Blue Thunders on Monday.

    “This is the first time ever in 17 years for the team and the community to enter the finals. The presence of  the school owner Dr. (Pablo) Olivarez was enough to motivation for them, I told them to focus on defense. Kapag sumablay at nagturnover, just go to defense. Sige lang,” said Sea Lions coach Michael Saguiguit.

    Corneh backed up de la Cruz with 12 points while Lascunas, Archie Reyes, Jethro Mendoza and Marlon Vizcarra each had six points for the Sea Lions, while Troy Rosario led TIP with 15.

    The Sea Lions will start their best-of-five finals series with the Blue Thunders at 1 p.m.

    It was Greg Aguilar’ trey with 7:32 to go which enabled the Engineers to stay close, 51-54, for the last time.