PSBA enters UCAA final

The Philippine School of Business Administration (PSBA) Jaguars held the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Generals to just nine points in the final period to pull off a 79-62 victory and barge into the finals of the Universities and Colleges Athletic Association (UCAA) men’s basketball tournament at the Tanduay gym.

The Jaguars face defending champion St. Francis of Assisi College in the best-of-three showdown Monday at 1:30 p.m. on Monday at the Rizal Coliseum.

"It was defense which did it for us. We did not let them score much in the last quarter," said Jaguars coach Monel Kallos.

Al Federiso unleashed 18 points while Romer Diaz canned in 16 for the Jaguars as they got back at the Generals, who handed them an 80-78 beating at the start of their first Final Four encounter last Thursday.

The Jaguars, who enjoyed a twice-to-beat advantage for finishing the elimination round with the no. 2 slot behind the Doves, were slightly ahead, 54-53, at the end of the third period when they finally cut loose with a big scoring blast in the final period.

Diaz and Federiso combined for 16 points during a 14-4 run, enabling the Jaguars to dash the Generals’ hopes for their first finals appearance.

The Jaguars took a commanding 68-57 spread in the last three minutes.

Nino Songco, shackled to only three in the final 10 minutes, led the Generals with 20 points while Ronjay Buenafe had 15.

It was Buenafe’s drive with three ticks left in the third period, which allowed the Generals to move behind by one at 53-54.

The St. Francis Doves clinched the first championship berth as they put away La Salle-Dasmarinas, 98-84, in the other side of the semifinals last Thursday.