Gurabo, Puerto Rico – The Escuela Especializada en Deportes del Albergue Olímpico (Ecedao) are once again champions of Puerto Rican school basketball, defeating Colegio Adianez 49-47 in a nail-biting final of the Top Ranked Buzzer Beater tournament on Wednesday. The victory, secured at the Coliseo Fernando “Rube” Hernández, marks Ecedao’s fourth national championship and a triumphant return to the top of the senior women’s division.
This win is particularly significant for Ecedao, having previously dominated the tournament with consecutive titles in 2019, 2020, and 2022. The 2021 edition of the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making this year’s championship even sweeter for the team and their supporters. The rivalry between Ecedao and Adianez is a storied one, with this final representing their fourth head-to-head matchup for the championship title. Combined, the two programs boast an impressive eight championships in this category of the Buzzer Beater tournament.
The game itself was a back-and-forth affair, with Ecedao overcoming a challenging 11-point deficit to secure the victory. “This team has a lot of character and they support each other,” said Ecedao head coach Fernando Casablanca to Primera Hora after the final. “When you play with each other’s backs covered, things like this happen. We fell 11 points behind against a team that played the best basketball at the conclude of the season. A lot of credit to Rafa (Acevedo) and his staff at Adianez, but What we have is deserved.”
Casablanca emphasized the journey of his players, stating, “This culminates a four-year process with these girls. People think Ecedao recruits. There are girls here that nobody wanted, they came here and today they are national champions.” That sentiment underscores the program’s commitment to developing talent and providing opportunities for student-athletes.
Ariana Montalvo was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, delivering a strong performance with 14 points, six rebounds, and two assists. Norieyska Ríos and Jeanette Rivera also contributed significantly to Ecedao’s win, scoring 11 and 10 points respectively. For Adianez, Arielis Valle led the scoring with 20 points, while Mia Villafañe added 11.
The game began with Ecedao taking an early lead, establishing a 7-2 advantage with a three-pointer from Natalia Centeno. Adianez quickly responded, regaining the lead with a three-pointer of their own from Karielys Jiménez. The “Tropa Naranja” (Orange Troop), as Adianez is known, extended their lead to 13-7 with a free throw from Lia Vázquez, prompting Casablanca to call a timeout.
Adianez continued their momentum after the timeout, increasing their lead to 15-7. Ecedao managed to halt the surge with a three-pointer from Ríos, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap entirely in the first period, as Adianez went into the second quarter leading 17-10 after two free throws from Valle.
The second quarter saw Adianez open with a difficult basket from Jiménez, followed by two transition layups that extended their lead to 23-12. Facing a growing deficit, Casablanca called another timeout. This proved to be a turning point, as Ecedao emerged with renewed energy and began to chip away at the lead. Ríos’s floater at the end of the first half brought Ecedao within one point, trailing 27-26 at the break.
The third quarter remained competitive, with both teams trading baskets. A three-pointer from Javiana Quiñones gave Ecedao their first lead since the opening minutes, energizing the home crowd. However, Valle responded with a basket before the end of the third, tying the game at 38-38.
The fourth quarter was a tense and dramatic affair. Adianez regained the lead and briefly extended it to four points with free throws from Mia Villafañe. Ecedao refused to concede, retaking the lead at 45-44 with a floater from Jeanette Rivera with less than four minutes remaining. A difficult basket under the rim from Centeno further extended Ecedao’s advantage, followed by a contested shot from Montalvo, putting them up 49-44. Valle scored a mid-range basket for Adianez, but they were unable to score again in the remaining minutes.
The victory solidifies Ecedao’s position as a powerhouse in Puerto Rican school basketball and marks a significant achievement for Coach Casablanca and his team. The Top Ranked Buzzer Beater tournament continues to showcase the talent and passion for the sport within the island’s educational institutions.
What’s Next: Ecedao will celebrate their championship and look ahead to defending their title in the next Top Ranked Buzzer Beater tournament. Details regarding the next season’s schedule and format will be announced by the league in the coming months.
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