THE PAREF Springdale Titans made their way to the finals, all thanks to the miraculous game-winning three-pointer by two-sport star Juan Antonio “Tonyo” Carcel.
Carcel lifted the Titans to a thrilling 47-46 victory over the Mt. Olives Christian Academy in the 1st Private Schools Developmental League last Tuesday at the PAREF Springdale gym.
Carcel, also a star on the national karting circuit, came up with the big play when all else seemed to be pointing to defeat.
Down, 44-46, with 15 seconds left to play, the Titans had one last chance and Carcel took it, canning a long trifecta with no time remaining to salvage the victory. Carcel saved his best for last as those were his only points of the game. He also had seven assists.
Big man Ace Gocuan paced the Titans with 14 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks while other big man Roy Villegas had 10 points and 13 boards.
The Titans will face the San Isidro Parish School, which bested the Cebu Cherish School, 57-37.
SIPS is the only team to have handed the Titans a loss in this tournament that aims to develop and showcase the game of basketball in private schools that do not have that large a population. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio