DEFENDING champions University of Luzon Golden Tigers nailed an 86-80 thrilling victory over its legendary rivals, the University of Pangasinan Webczars, retaining their title in this year’s PRISAA Pangasinan-Dagupan Inter-Collegiate Basketball Tournament dubbed as “Mayor Al Fernandez, Jr. Cup”.

The Golden Tigers and the Webczrs fought a close match in the first two quarters, 24-24 and 41-40, but the champions slowly but surely pulled away in the last two periods,

Leading by a precarious five points, 62-57, after the third quarter, the Tigers applied an air-tight defense halfway in the final period to rattle the 2005 titlists Webczars and forced them to commit costly turnovers.

But despite the aggressive charge by the boys of Jack Vidal, the Webczars, carrying a big heart and determination to capture the crown headed by slotman Allan Roquin combined with wily guard Albert Carcha to cut the deficit by a mere point, 72-71, and had a chance to wrest the lead, 2:36 minutes left.

Running into traffic at the paint as he drove to the basket, Carcha missed an acrobatic shot and the momentum swung decisively to the Tigers up to the end.

The final game, held Monday at the Dagupan People’s Astrodome, was the third in the best-of-three championship series.

Last Monday’s encounter was the fourth time for the league’s bitter adversaries meeting this season with the reigning titlists winning three.

“We lost the first game but we just hung in there and stuck together as a group,” said head coach Vidal.

“But despite our setback, my boys were not frustrated and gave their best and fortunately we came away with the championship, so I give a big credit to my boys” Vidal added.

For his part, Webczars head coach Angel Gumarang said, “We lost fair and square this time with the three referees from UAAP doing a great job.”

“Sana ang mga referee na ito ang nag-officiate na noong first two games parawala nang brouhaha na nangyari,” Gumarang added.

Five of Tigers’ players ended with double digit scores, with six-foot-four center Norman Ilao scoring a team high 18 points.

Jenkins Bucao nailed 14 while three-point specialist Rod Natavio had 13, 12 of them sank from beyond-the-arc. Jonathan Panunciar also drilled in 13 and Marbin Macalalad contributed 11.

Only two from the Webczars squad landed with double figures.

Carcha registered his career high 36 points, 22 of them made in the first half while Roquin contributed 17, 14 of them converted in the final half. —JAGJr.

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