Kris Torrado and Alex Diakhite delivered the clutch baskets once again as Diliman College beat Olivarez College in their knockout duel, 76-65, and topped the 1st Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) Summer Invitational yesterday at the Buddhacare gym in Quezon City.
Diakhite produced his 6th double-double with 30 points and 20 rebounds to help the Blue Dragons beat the Sea Lions for the second time in three days.
Olivarez gained a twice-to-beat advantage in the final after topping the double-round elims, but the Sea Lions failed to stop Diakhite’s rampage.
The African import had 20 points and 16 rebounds in the team’s 63-53 win last Thursday that forced a rubber match.
Torrado, on the other hand, brilliantly orchestrated the team’s offense and clinched the Finals MVP after finishing with 13 points and seven assists.
The 6-foot-8 Diakhite highlighted his game-long brilliance with five assists and four blocks in 39 minutes of action in the tournament sponsored by Ever Bilena-Blackwater, Smart, Advanced Solution, Inc. and Manila Bulletin.
“It was a good fight but Diliman proved mightier this time,” said UCBL president Franklin Evidente. “Their win makes them the title favorite in the second season of the tournament.”
It was a disappointing end to Olivarez’s campaign after finishing the elims with a 9-1 card only to blow it away in the end.
They even controlled the first half of the deciding game but they fell apart as the Diakhite started to impose his will inside.
Also shining for the Rensy Bajar-mentored Diliman College was Joseph Brutas who buried four triples to finish with 14 points.