DEFENDING champion St. Clare College of Caloocan made history by winning an unprecedented sixth straight title — and seventh overall — in the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (NAASCU) men’s basketball tournament.

Led by Senegalese import Babacar Ndong and handled by coach Jinino Manansala, St. Clare brought down Our Lady of Fatima University, 50-48, in another tight and exciting battle at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Ndong made his presence felt on both ends of the floor for St. Clare in the final three minutes as he came through with the clutch baskets and a strong defensive effort highlighted by a chasedown block that elicited ohhhs and ahhhs from another huge crowd.

Ndong, who was later named as Most Valuable Player (MVP), finished with a team-high 12 points, including a crucial four-point cluster that put the Caloocan- based Saints ahead for good, 48-43.

Ndong, who also finished with eight rebounds, also got the better in his match-up against the equally hard-working Fatima big man Mamadou Toure.

Luiz Tapenio added 10 points and six rebounds, Drick Acosta contributed seven points and five rebounds, Ryan Sual has six points and Charles Burgos had five points for the Saints.

“Thank God. We’re very happy to win it (title) again. The boys really worked hard for it,” said Manansala, who was personally congratulated by St. Clare President Dr. Clarita G. Adalem and NAASCU president Jay Adalem.

“Winning the title is good, but winning it for six straight years since 2016 is unbelievable. Wala na akong mahihiling pa,” added Manansala, who also credited his father, PBA legend Jimmy Manansala, and the St. Clare College community for the team’s success.

St. Clare achieved a lot of milestone in winning the title.

The Saints’ sixth straight NAASCU title from 2016 surpassed University of Manila’s long-standing record of five consecutive crowns from 2001 to 2005.

Counting its first-ever championship in 2012, St. Clare’s seventh NAASCU title also tied UM with the most number of titles won in the league’s 21 years.

Manansala himself achieved a personal milestone by winning his seventh NAASCU crown, ahead of the late UM coach Loreto “Ato” Tolentino.

Marvel Jimenez carried the fight for Fatima with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Charles Dela Cruz added 11 points, Kobi Davis had seven points and Toure had five points and a game-high16 rebounds for the Ralph Emerson Rivera-mentored Phoenix.

St. Clare and Fatima, the top two teams in the elimination round, earned the right to dispute the title by beating separate rivals in the semifinal round.

St. Clare defeated Enderun Colleges, 71-59, in a rematch of last year’s titular showdown, while No. 2 seed Fatima humbled AMA University, 67-51, in the semis.

The scores:

St. Clare College (50) – Ndong 12, Tapenio 10, Acosta 7, Sual 6, Burgos 5, Galang 4, Estacio 4, De Guzman 2, Cabauatan 0, Angeles 0.
Fatima University (48) – Jimenez 15, Dela Cruz 11, Davis 7, Tiamzon 5, Toure 5, Gomez 3, Romero 0, Tecson 0, Loyola.
Quarterscores: 11-10, 24-21, 42-35, 50-48.