Magat’s triple lifts Griffins past Sea Horses in UCLAA

MANILA, Philippines - Manu Magat drilled in a triple in the last 5.3 seconds, lifting Colegio de San Lorenzo to a thrilling 56-53 victory over the PATTS College of Aeronautics in the opener of the eighth Universities and Colleges of Luzon Athletic Association (UCLAA) men’s basketball championship at the Marikina Sports Complex last Tuesday.

Left open on the left corner in a broken play, Magat took a pass from Jun Gabriel and launched the game-winner, stretching the Griffins’ win run to nine and within a victory of nailing the championship in their best-of-three series.

“He was on the right spot on that situation. He wasn’t supposed to shoot it. But he got an opportunity to win it for the team, and he took it,” said CdSL coach Bonnie Garcia.

The Sea Horses actually had a chance to force overtime but Aaron Yambao blocked John Paul Manansala’s attempt from the long range at the buzzer.

Meanwhile, action in the men’s and women’s volleyball got under way yesterday at the Technological Institute of the Philippines gym in Quiapo.

Gabriel led the Griffins with 11 points, while James Alvarado and Rustom Borja added nine points apiece.

It was a sorry setback for the Sea Horses who took a four-point lead with three minutes left in the contest. But Alvarado took charge and the Griffins tied the count at 51 with 1:12 left in the match.