Games Thursday
(Paco Arena)
12 noon – CEU vs PCU-D
2 p.m. – DIL vs PWU
4 p.m. – OLI vs LPU-B
6 p.m. – ICC vs UB
Philippine Christian University-Dasmarinas stunned reigning titlist Olivarez College, 83-77, and firmed up its bid for an outright berth at the close of the first phase of the elimination round in the PGFlex-UCAL Season 8 Basketball Tournament on Monday, March 9, at the Paco Arena in Manila.
Only one of PCU-D’s starting unit failed to finish in double figures but what made the big difference was the the team’s air-tight defense on the usually explosive foreign-student athlete Hakim Njiasse, who they held to a season-low 2 points.
John Carl Catayong shone brightest for the Dolphins with a double-double of 22 points and 13boards apart from 3 assists, while JayR Pronda added 18 and 7 rebounds. Kingsley Anaba and Alvin Reyes combined for 27 points with the former grabbing 15 rebounds.
Displaying the ferocity of a hungry bear since the arrival of Precious Momowei, the CEU Scorpions humbled the opposition in the 9-school league to complete an 8-0 sweep, underscoring their desire to bring the championship trophy back to Mendiola.
PCU-D and Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas, a 65-59 winner over Immaculada Concepcion College, finished with similar 5-3 marks but it was the former who took third by virtue of the winner over the other rule.
The top four placers play another round carrying their win-loss records with the Nos. 1 and 2 squads marching to the semis automatically. The third and fourth placers will be pitted against the top two finishers of the other bracket – fifth to 9th placers – that will also play another round.
Two-time champion Diliman College, which drubbed Philippine Women’s University, 73-58, finished 5th with a 4-4 record followed by ICC (3-5), MCU (3-5), UB (1-7), and PWU (1-7).
The second part of the elimination round starts on Thursday with CEU going for its 9th straight win against PCU-D at 12 noon while Olivarez tackles LPU-B.
