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| The triumphant Collegiate Press Corps taking a photo at center court of the SMART-Araneta Coliseum. |
Despite being barred for playing for Far Eastern University this UAAP Season 82, Emman Ojuola still made waves by steering the Chooks-to-Go Collegiate Press Corps to back-to-back titles in the 2019 UAAP Goodwill Games at the expense of rival Technical Group/Stats, 112-110, Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Nigerian big man powered the Press with his dominating 27 points and 27 rebounds, with seven assists and two blocks to boot in the tightly contested Finals affair.
Impactful was the Tamaraw's entrance to the game three minutes into the first quarter which drew shock and awe from opposing team. Ojuola then went to work as he went toe-to-toe against Technical Group/Stats' resident import and UAAP Season 69 MVP Ken Bono in the paint.
With Media holding a tight 107-104, the 22-year-old slotman converted on a much-needed three-point play 1:08 remaining to push his side up six, 110-104.
After a turnover by the opposition, NBTC's Ryan Monteclaro was called for a dubious traveling violation earning the ire of the men in the sidelines led by Randolph Leongson of Spin.ph, Yo Sarmenta of ESPN5, and Matthew Li of Tiebreaker Times.
Phoenix guard RR Garcia swished a triple from the right corner to trim the gap to three, 110-107, with 15.4 to play, but Monteclaro nailed the insurance charities that put the game away, 112-107.
NCAA top scorer Allyn Bulanadi rekindled his shooting touch and led the Media with 33 points, on a 5-of-13 clip from deep, to go with five assists and three rebounds as he calmly netted his patented lefty jumpers from downtown that provided the spark for the comeback victory.
Monteclaro, who suited up for Adamson back in his UAAP days, also added 26 points, including six from beyond the arc, as throngs of journalists stormed the court in euphoric glee, celebrating another victory against their heated rivals, extending their playoff win streak to four dating back to 2015.
Roy Cayanan of Tiebreaker Times chimed in 14 points, nine assists, and four boards, while Anton Altamirano of NBTC submitted seven points, four rebounds, and three dimes as the two-time champions also got solid contributions from Cedelf Tupas of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, AJ Bolando and Philip Matel of ESPN5, Christian Jacinto of ONE Championship, John Bryan "Slashman" Ulanday of the Philippine Star, Paul Carpio of PM, Bong Lozada of Inquirer.net, Josef Ramos of the Manila Times, Aivan Episcope and Cyreel Zarate of Abante, and Niel Masoy of Courtside.ph.
It was sweet redemption for the newsmen, who were on the wrong end of a controversial 112-111 loss against the same team last Oct. 12 but made sure that the result of the championship will not be in doubt this time out.
Garcia, the UAAP Season 73 MVP, led the Technical Group/Stats with 43 points and eight rebounds, while Bono, who is also playing for TNT KaTropa, finished with 31 points, on a lethal 9-of-14 clip from threes, and seven boards.
Fellow resident Tech/Stats reinforcement Joel Lee Yu added 32 points and eight rebounds, as the runner-up also fielded RJ Deles of Marikina Shoemasters, ABS-CBN Sports' Martin Javier, and UAAP referee Jaime Rivano.
The Scores:
UAAP MEDIA 112 -- Bulanadi 33, Ojuola 27, Monteclaro 26, Cayanan 14, Altamirano 7, Bolando 3, Carpio 2, Jacinto 0, Tupas 0, Ulanday 0, Ramos 0, Lozada 0, Matel 0, Episcope 0, Zarate 0, Masoy 0.
TECHNICAL GROUP 110 -- Garcia 43, Lee Yu 32, Bono 31, Deles 3, Rivano 1, Canete 0, Javier 0, Tabora 0, Celeste 0.
Quarters: 30-19, 52-46, 83-80, 112-110.
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