Plugging the holes that cost them the title last year despite winning the first match, only to lose twice in a row, the University of Luzon Golden Tigers avenged that debacle this year by trouncing their tormentor and arch-enemy, the University of Pangasinan Webczars, 85-79, in the second game of the finals of the PRISAA Pangasinan-Dagupan City Inter-Collegiate Basketball Invitational Tournament held last Monday.

Determined and with full ammunitions tucked on their belts, the Golden Tigers swooped downed  on  its enemies at the start of the second period after a deadlock at the first, 24-24, behind a virtuoso performance from veteran Rod Natavio.

After scoring what proved to be the marginal and convincing move, the UL boys of head coach Renato “Jack” Vidal settled down defensively and outclassed the Webczars to lead 52-36 at half-time.

All that UL did the rest of the way was to hold off several furious rallies by the defending champions Webczars and the last was a 73-69, a little more than two minutes left, after a precarious five-point lead, 60-55, at the end of the third.

More importantly, Natavio, a native son of Mangaldan who was later named the finals’ MVP, held the UL offense together with Simon Velasco and center Jenkins Bucao who held their ground in the face of a relentless offensive game by the Webczars. And all that the Webczars could do was to follow the trail blazed by the victors and relinquished the coveted crown.

“UPang is always a tough match for us, then and until now,” Vidal said.

“Of all the teams in the league, it’s they who also have the size and speed, but we hang in there and we played good defense and with much better cohesiveness this time, and I credit my boys for it. But first and foremost, we thank the Lord for giving us this victory,” a triumphant Vidal said.

The Golden Tigers trounced the Webczars, 85-80, during the elimination round and suffered its only loss in the hands of the Lyceum Northwestern University Dukes, ending with eight wins.

Tied with theWebczars and the Dukes during the qualifying round, UL topped the A division through the FIBA quotient format.

The first game of the finals, however, was marred by a walk-out by the Webczars due to poor officiating by the referees making the Golden Tigers win by technicality. This prompted the league officials to suspend the Webczars’s head coach for one game which many believe contributed to their loss.

Natavio drew a huge game collecting 26 points and with six boards. Bucao and Velasco contributed 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Webczars three-point specialist Bryan Santillan had a game high 28 points. Albert Carcha had 24 and Linel Manalo with 18.

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