Immaculada Concepcion College outplayed PATTS College of Aeronautics, 78-70, in their knockout semifinals duel to set up a best-of-three championship showdown with Olivarez College in the National Capital Region Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines gym on Monday.
Ian Torres came off the bench and provided the spark, finishing with 19 points and eight rebounds while three other Blue Hawks finished in double figures as they powered the school to their first-ever finals appearance since joining the league five years ago.
Ramirez contributed 18 points while Jake Gaspay and Alfred Flores had 14 points and six rebounds apiece.
ICC’s remarkable season was a complete turnaround from its previous campaigns where it struggled to get a win and it needed a coaching change to be able to reach the championship round this season.
Multiple-time Philippine Basketball Association champion Ogie Gumatay took over the coaching reins from previous mentor Ronnie Jay Ocampo Agsalud midway through the elimination round of the tournament and immediately brought his winning ways to the Blue Hawks, who will face the Sealions of Olivarez.
A three-time champion in the tournament, Olivarez held off last season’s runner-up Philippine Merchant Marine School, 68-60.
Also making it to the championship round for the first time is Polytechnic University of the Philippines, which ousted last season’s women’s champion, La Salle-Dasmarinas, 90-75, in the semifinals.
Firebrand guard Johanns Blaza came back from repeated cramps and came away with 16 points to finish the job done, but she got plenty of support from Mykalla Misahon, who led the way with 17 markers on top of six rebounds.
Burly but shifty Andrea Cayco, Bernalyn Aragon and Lovely Panti each produced 12 markers for the Lady Radicals, who will face Centro Escolar University in a knockout championship.
The Lady Scorpions of CEU walloped PMMS, 81-47, as Lovely Altamirano paced the squad with 14 markers.
