Former two-time champion Diliman College completed the semifinals cast in the Universities and Colleges Athletic League-PG Flex Linoleum Season 6 with an 80-73 win over the No. 2 seed, Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas, in the rubber match of their quarterfinal series on Monday at the Paco Arena in Manila.
The Blue Dragons, who finished seventh in the eliminations, rode the hot hands of Axl Ross Taporco and the razzle-dazzle performance of Robbie Marion Darang to dismantle PCU-D’s two-game advantage and secure the right to face No. 3 Olivarez College in the Final Four, which is a knockout affair.
Top seed and defending champion Centro Escolar University faces Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas in the other semifinals pairing on Thursday in the event also presented by Angel’s Pizza.
Taporco, who also starred in the team’s 83-81 win last Thursday that forced the knockout match, buried six 3-point shots to finish with 26 points, in addition to logging 7 boards and 2 assists in almost 30 minutes of action.
But it was Darang who shone brightest as he produced a rare triple-double with 18 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds.
Like in the opening game of their series that was marred by a near free-for-all, the game was also hotly contested, with the Blue Dragons finally pulling away early in the payoff period, thanks to Darang, who drained back-to-back treys to spark a mini-run that gave them their first sizable lead, 64-53.
John Bernard Parista had his own share of glory as he produced 9 points, including a triple that repulsed PCU’s comeback bid.
Ram Mesqueriola paced the Dolphins with 20 points and 3 boards.
