Olago delivers as USC drops NU from PCCL race

Japhet Lim/CESAFI (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

TANAUAN--Prior to a PCCL match on Monday, NU coach Eric Altamirano admitted to Dugout Philippines that he and his team had no idea on what USC, especially Shooster Olago, can do, not to mention the fact that the UAAP squad played on back-to-back days and had to again play for a third consecutive night.

"We hadn't seen [USC] play yet. We don't have time to prepare kasi everyday yung games," Altamirano bared before tipoff.

Olago made a huge impression.

Olago put up a solid performance capped by the game-winning basket as the Warriors, the reigning CESAFI champions, ended the Bulldogs' PCCL bid with a 73-72 squeaker at the FAITH Indoor Sports Arena and Activity Center.

Olago made the go-ahead jumper with 1.7 seconds left to put an exclamation point to a 22-point performance while sending USC, which trailed by four with 14 seconds remaining, to the national quarterfinals.

Alfred Aroga came up with huge baskets in the final four minutes of the game to help the Warriors open a six-point cushion, 68-62, with 1:37 left in the game.

But Olago scored back-to-back field goals to cut the lead to just two, 68-66, with 50 seconds to go in the game.

JJay Alejandro answered with a deuce of his own to again bring NU up, 70-66, with 40 ticks left.

Olago then scored off a follow-up to again trim the gap to two, 70-68, with 19 second remaining.

Aroga made two charities to put the Bulldogs ahead, 72-68, with 14 seconds on the clock, but Ian Tagapan fired a clutch triple that drew the Warriors to within one with nine ticks left.

Tagapan had a chance to tie the game as he was fouled while taking the trey, but he muffed the bonus free throw.

USC, however, got the possession back after NU failed to secure the rebound as the ball went out of bounds, and Olago made it fruitful by eluding Aroga's defense and launched a 19-footer for the lead.

Matthew Aquino's desperation heave at the final buzzer went off the mark.

Olago also had seven rebounds, one assist, one steal, and four blocks for the Warriors, who will take on the UST Growling Tigers in the quarterfinals on Tuesday at the FilOil Flying V Arena.

Alejandro led the Bulldogs with 19 markers.

Box Scores:

USC 73-Olago 22, Pepito 16, Tagapan 8, Ortega 5, Magat 5, Toyambi 5, McAloney 5, Maconocido 4, Lim 3, Laguyo 0, Rabat 0

NU 72-Alejandro 19, Aroga 16, Salim 9, Diputado 8, Morido 6, Cinco 6, Rangel 4, Yu 3, Abatayo 1, Pate 0, Aquino 0

Quarterscores: 25-20, 33-29, 47-47, 73-72

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