Dagupan City - The Naga City Foundation (NCF)Tigers held their ground halting an Lyceum Northwestern University (LNU) Dukes' comeback, 79-75, to become the kings of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) Luzon Leg at the LNU Gymnasium.

The Tigers’ defense was on point in the first quarter to limit the Dukes to shoot only 38% from the field. Fredson Hermonio and Jaymar Allarey initiated the offensive attack by combining for 10 points as their team leads by 6 heading into the second period.

Turning the tide, the Dukes stayed on pace with the Tigers as they shot better from the three-point arc in the second quarter. NCF still leads by 3 points at the end of the first half.

The third quarter was a battle between Maliano Catabang of LNU and NCF’s Hermonio Fredson as they traded baskets with Catabang scoring 16 points and Fredson had 14. NCF is still up by 3 points entering the final period.

It was a defensive battle by both teams as physicality escalates. Catabang continued his scoring ways but Fredson provided the finishing touches for NCF as they take the victory from LNU.

Emmanuel Ojoula of NCF had a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds while Hermonio Fredson had 21 points and 5 assists.

LNU’s Catabang was the top scorer of the game with 26 points to go with 4 rebounds and 3 assists.

The NCF Tigers will now join the Elite8 that will compete for the PCCL championship that will be held in February 2018.

The scores:

NCF Tigers (79) – Ojoula 24, Hermonio 21, Margallo 8, Allarey 6, Mangubat 6, Lapinid 5, Padua 4, Nebedum 2, Magistrado 2, Olayvar 2, Baylon 0, Lawas 0, Medones 0.

LNU Dukes (75) – Catabang 25, Agad 11, Suratos 9, Melendez 7, Coquia 6, Aquino 5, Radet 4, Yanga 3, Alipio 2, Jacinto 1, Ordona 1, Dibdib 0, Malonga 0.

Quarterscores: 21-15, 37-24, 67-63, 79-75.