Sea Horses foil Griffins, cop UCLAA crown

John Paul Manansala took charge in the fourth, firing 12 points as PATTS College of Aeronautics clipped Colegio de San Lorenzo, 6861, to capture the eighth Universities and Colleges of Luzon Athletic Association (UCLAA) men’s basketball crown at the Marikina Sports Center over the weekend.

Neilmore Cayson, Jayson Orada, Arvee Capinding and Rogiemar Calubag also put up solid games as the Sea Horses broke away from a tight contest to win their best-of-three series, 2-1, and nail their first UCLAA championship.

“Finally, we made it,” said PATTS coach Rencie Aranzaso, who drew a 24-point output from Manansala and clutch baskets from Cayson, Orada, Capinding and Calubag.

The Sea Horses also pounced on the ejection of CdSL coach Bonnie Garcia and the fouling out of Rustom Borja, pulling away at 62-52 off Manansala’s two free throws.

The Griffins actually kept the game close in the first three quarters but Capinding scored on a penetration to shatter the 26-all count then made a split to give the Sea Horses a 48-46 lead heading to the last 10 minutes.

Manansala and Calubag then took over as PATTS sat on a 54-49 cushion then held on to the finish as the Griffins ran out of options without Jun Gabriel, who was suspended after getting thrown out in Game two.

James Alvarado shot 18 points for CsDL, which lost Borja to fouls with still 5:51 left in the contest. Garcia, meanwhile, was ejected with 4:45 remaining for unsportsmanlike conduct.