HoopWatch

This game tops all games this season. A nail-biter from start to finish.

University of Sto. Thomas (UST) guard Jojo “The Detonator” Duncil delivers in the clutch as he scattered eight points in the final seconds of regulation and in overtime, including two key back-to-back jumpers in the extra period giving UST its 19th University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) title. UST won 76-74 at the expense of the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles.

The UST Growling Tigers and the Blue Eagles battled through lead changes since the start of the final quarter until the end of the game. A JC Intal three-pointer and free throws gave Ateneo a four-point cushion, 61-57, with 2:17 remaining. Then Duncil answered with a jumper, 61-59. In the ensuing play, Intal drove to the basket, getting the shot plus the fifth foul of UST center Gervy Cruz, who left the game with only nine points. Ateneo led 64-59.

It appeared that the Blue Eagles would capture the crown until Anthony Espiritu hit a big three to cut the deficit to two 62-64. Mark Canlas then followed-up a UST miss for the tie, 64-64, after an Intal miss. With 21 seconds remaining, Intal missed the potential game winner, sending the game to overtime.

In overtime, Blue Eagle guard Macky Escalona hits a triple after a Duncil jumper to knot the count at 67-all. Then came the Duncil barrage. Duncil scored five straight points to extend UST’s lead to three, 72-69. With 55 seconds left, Ateneo guard Chris Tiu hit an elbow three off an Intal pass for the tie, 72-72. Duncil shot another baseline jumper off a fake for the UST 74-72 lead. Intal then scored on a drive for the final deadlock of the game, at 74-all.

As has been there advantage the whole season, Dylan Ababou grabbed another offensive rebound off a Jun Cortez miss resulting to the final foul of Chris Tiu. He canned just one free throw for a slim UST 75-74 lead. That one-point lead seemed to be fatal for the Eagles as Intal missed on another potential game winner with 3 seconds remaining. Cortez then made 1-of-2 free throws for the win, 76-74.

The Growling Tigers appeared to break the game wide open in the third quarter as they utilize a 17-2 run to lead by as much as nine, 48-39. But Escalona refused to give way, as he scored five straight points, leading an Ateneo comeback and cutting the Tigers’ lead to one, 51-50, at the end of the third quarter. Escalona finished the game with 28 points.

Duncil, fittingly, was adjudged this year’s Finals Most Valuable Player. (pics courtesy of online.ue.edu.ph)