Alvin Reyes displayed nerves of steel, draining a clutch three-pointer with just one second left to propel Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas to a thrilling 78-76 victory over top-seeded Olivarez College in the UCAL-PGFlex Linoleum Cup Finals, Thursday at Paco Arena in Manila.
On the brink of defeat after trailing 76-71 with just over two minutes remaining, the PCU-D Dolphins mounted a furious comeback, closing the game on a scorching 7-0 run. Reyes sealed the win with his dramatic game-winning triple, giving the Dolphins a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three championship series.
PCU-D now stands on the verge of its first-ever title since joining the league in Season 2. Another victory on Monday, April 7, will secure the championship, while a deciding Game 3, if necessary, is scheduled for April 10.
The heartbreaking collapse was a major letdown for the Sealions, who stormed to an early 9-0 lead and built multiple double-digit advantages throughout the game, only to falter in crunch time—undone by PCU’s grit and resilience.
(C) UCAL
Reyes finished with 12 points, three rebounds, and an assist in 25 minutes of action, making up for a subpar nine-point outing from PCU’s top scorer, Joshua Diño.
With Diño struggling against Olivarez’s relentless defense, John Carl Catayong and Ram Mesqueriola stepped up, scoring 21 and 14 points, respectively.
Ultimately, PCU’s offensive efficiency proved to be the difference. The Dolphins shot 41% from the field (32-of-78), compared to Olivarez’s 39% (29-of-74).
The Sealions had led by as many as 14 points early in the second quarter but failed to maintain their momentum.
Meanwhile, the league, supported by sponsors including Akari, Cafe France, Advance Solutions Inc., Smart Sports, Spalding, Team Rebel Sports, Quintana Sports, Crane Faucet, Hapee Toothpaste, Jiang Nan Restaurant, Vital, Top Flite Academy, Maruyama, and Gerry’s Grill, will soon recognize individual standouts who made this season truly memorable.
