The Diliman College Blue Dragons fired 16 triples in a 101-61 dismantling of the Technological Institute of the Philippines Engineers, to clinch the first Final Four berth in the Universities and Colleges Basketball League Season 3, Monday at the Olivarez College in Parañaque City.
Johnnel Rey Bauzon went 4-of-6 from beyond the arc to finish with 17 points, as the Blue Dragons took command with a 27-9 lead and were hardly threatened from there.
“Nasunod ng mga bata yung game plan namin, especially on our defense. We made our shots in the three-point area kaya kami nakabuwelo,” said coach RenZy Bajar, after Diliman chalked up their eighth win in nine contests.
Earlier, the Olivarez College Sea Lions bolstered their semifinals hopes with a quick 114-47 victory over St. Joseph College-Bulacan Taurus.
Logging their sixth win in eight contests, the Sea Lions also stayed on course in the race for the second twice-to-beat slot in the Final Four. Olivarez moved one game behind the idle Centro Escolar University Scorpions.
Not only did they clinch a spot in the Final Four, the Blue Dragons also boosted their bid for the semis incentive, as they are ahead by one-and-a-half games over the third-running Sea Lions.
“Yun ang hinahabol namin na makapag-twice-to-beat. We have three more games left,” said Bajar.
MJ Enriquez added 15 points and three assists, while Robbi Darang chipped in 14 points and four assists for Diliman.
Aside from Bauzon’s four triples, Mikhael Salazar had three treys; Darang, MJ Enriquez and John Mahari had two; while Earl Salazar, Joseph Brutas and Van Coquia also scored in the three-point area for the Blue Dragons.
Venting their ire after a narrow loss to Diliman last week, Olivarez – with Udoba and Castro leading the charge – roared to a 22-6 advantage after the opening period and never looked back.
