DEFENDING champion St. Clare College of Caloocan brought down erstwhile unbeaten Our Lady of Fatima University, 59-51, in a highly-anticipated battle in the National Athletic Association of Schools Colleges and Universities (NAASCU) Season 21 at the NOVADECI Convention Center in Novaliches.

Ahron Estacio finished with a game-high 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting, three assists, three steals, and two rebounds for the Saints of NAASCU president Dr. Jay Adalem and coach Jino Manansala.

Charles Burgos added eight points and a game-high 14 rebounds, and Ryan Sual contributed seven points for the Saints, who secured the No. 1 seed with a 7-1 win-loss record. Ndong Babacar also had a strong game with six points and 13 rebounds.

Only Mamadou Toure scored in double digits for the Ralph Rivera-mentored Phoenix as he finished with a double- double of 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting and 19 rebounds in 37 minutes of action.

Danzel Gomez and Charles Tecson contributed six points each.

Earlier, Warren Sienes, John Palomares, and John Luigi De Leon combined for 52 points to lead City University of Pasay to 65-67 victory over Enderun Colleges.

Sienes was the top performer for CUP with 20 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.

Palomares added 17 points , while De Leon chipped in 15 points and seven rebounds.

Darrel Nguene had 18 points and 20 rebounds in Enderun’s losing effort with 18 points and 20 rebounds.

In other matches, New Era University clobbered Holy Angel University,78-57, and University of Makati outplayed Manuel L. Quezon University, 93-71

Casper Pericas led the balanced scoring attack for New Era University with 18 points and nine rebounds.

Solomon Kone added 10 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.

Mavin Joseph Elospa and Ramonchito Rodriguez paced Holy Angel with 17 and 13 points, respectively,

Kenz Diokno and Christian Jake Agoncillo contributed 16 points apiece as UMak of coach Vis Valencia pulled away in the second half to barge into the win column after seven loses.

Jose Adrian Antonio and Steven Gabriel Dino scored 19 and 18 points, respectively, in MLQU’s seventh loss.