De Ocampo Memorial College survived the Andre Paras-less AMA Online in a fightback, 108-106, to claim a spot in the finals for the second straight season in the Sta. Lucia-Land NCRAA last Tuesday at the PATTS Gym.
Nino Macasling and Dahrell Caranguian finished with game high 26 points apiece while Johnard Clarito contributed 22 markers as De Ocampo toppled the top-seeded Titans in their knockout semifinal encounter.
De Ocampo lost in last year’s finals to Colegio de San Lorenzo.
Caranguian said that this time, they are more determined to do whatever it took to finally capture the championship of this season's event supported by Sta. Lucia Land, Max's and Bread Talk with LGR as the official outfitter.
"I think we're hungrier this year. Gutom kami nung isang taon pa kaya mas malaki gutom namin this year," said Caranguian.
Paras, son of former PBA MVP Benjie Paras, recently returned from a severe ankle sprain but missed the all-important game because of a prior commitment.
In his absence, Genmar Bragais and Owen Graham presided on offense, combining for 49 markers.
Graham's bucket in the last 22 seconds put AMA to within three points, 107-104, and then Carlo Garcia came through with another quick basket after forcing a turnover, allowing the Titans to threaten with 11 seconds left on the clock.
The Titans were forced to foul to stop the clock, sending Caranguian to the foul line with only three seconds to go. After he missed the first, Caranguian intentionally muffed the second charity, but Clarito collared the rebound. Send to the foul line, Clarito split his charities for the final tally.