Defending champions Saint Clare College of Caloocan Saints and Our Lady of Fatima University Phoenix continued to shine in the spotlight of the 18th National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (NAASCU) presented by Bitcoin Cash.
Both schools – the same finalists two seasons ago in 2016 – clinched their third straight wins in convincing fashion and now share the leadership of Group A, Thursday at the Rizal Technological University Gym.
The visiting Fatima Phoenix put away home squad Rizal Technological University Blue Thunder and their vibrant fans, 89-70
Former Junior Phoenix standout Jack Hoyohoy showed he can ball at the next level by hitting seven of his 14 points in the pivotal second period to give them a decisive 43-31 halftime edge.
The lead would go to as much as 24 points, 83-59, as Jeremy Troy Sarona poured 14 of his 16 points in the second half while Paulo Evardo added 14 points.
Later on, Saint Clare showed no mercy in crushing the Holy Angel University Flyers, 116-60.
The Saints used a jackrabbit start against the suddenly flatfooted Holy Angel in the first period, 43-12.
Rojay Santos came off the bench and quickly fired five triples en route to a 21-point performance on top of four steals in only 11 minutes of action, while starter CJ Catura supported him with 14 points.
In other games, the Saint Francis of Assisi College Doves claimed a major scalp of last year’s runners-up De Ocampo Memorial College Cobras, 90-59.
The expected marquee match fizzled, as the Doves managed to lead by as high as 36 markers, 76-40, behind Michael Cenita, who knocked in 14 of his 16 points in their second half blitz.
The AMA University Titans was also victorious over the New Era University Hunters, 78-64.
Despite suffering a bad ankle injury in their previous assignment, top point guard JC Garcia still suited up and steered the Titans with 15 points and seven assists.
The Philippine Christian University Dolphins also drew superlative outputs from point guard Mark Edison Ordonez and Filipino-American forward Christian Caldozo as they took down the Manuel L. Quezon University Stallions, 80-66.
Ordonez dropped 29 points, eight rebounds, and four steals, while Caldozo chipped in 28 points and eight rebounds.
On Saturday, MLQU take on New Era at 8:00am. Also scheduled are tilts pitting Enderun against Holy Angel, Saint Clare and NTC, and PMMS and CUP. The final game will see St. Francis taking on AMA. All games will be held at the RTU Gym in Mandaluyong.
The Scores:
First Game
OLFU (89) – Sarona 17, Evardo 15, Hoyohoy 14, Cabrera 12, Essomba 8, Pastrana 7, de Vera 4, Dalupang 3, Alarcon 3, Diosa 2, Bacay 2, Diao 2, Suria 0, Espiritu 0.
RTU (70) – Reyes 24, Redondo 11, Estoce 10, Laman 9, Sienes 7, Tilos 6, Ronquillo 2, Asuncion 1, Calapine 0, Flores 0, Guting 0, Casitas 0, Teofilo 0, Torre 0.
Quarterscores: 21-20, 43-31, 64-51, 89-70.
Second Game
SFAC (90) – Cenita 16, Parcero 13, Manzanilla 11, Oduo 10, Larotin 9, Tolosa 6, Ceguerra 5, Arellano 4, Chu 4, Magsalin 3, Madrid 3,de la Cruz 2, So 2, Sumaguit 2, Selorio 0, Guevarra 0.
DOMC (59) – Manalang 14, Montojo 9, Balisi 7, Gallardo 5, Sabasaje 3, Schwartz 4, Canelas 3, Lescano 3, Artesano 3, R Atabay 3, de la Cruz 3, Simon 1, Reyes 1, Pascual 0, Ramos 0.
Quarterscores: 19-11, 44-25, 69-38, 90-59.
Third Game
SCC-C (119) – Santos 21, Catura 14, Joven 13, de Leon 12, Hallare 12, Tecson 11, Decano 10, Fuentes 9, Palencia 7, Penaredondo 4, Fontanilla 2, Pare 2, Rebugio 2.
HAU (60) – Pacoma 15, Dizon 11, N Luna 8, Alido 6, Candelaria 4, Oderinde 4, Nacu 3, Tullod 2, Casison 2, Halili 2, Lopez 2, Pascual 1, Patawaran 0, Miranda 0, F Luna 0.
Quarterscores: 43-12, 70-28, 98-49, 119-60.
Fourth Game
AMA (78) – Garcia 15, Magbuhos 14, Barde 14, Fuentes 9, David 9, Soriano 8, de la Rosa 6, Nacpil 3, Alao 0, Dulnoan 0.
NEU (64) – Comia 18, Marticio 16, de la Cruz 12, Bringas 5, Castillo 5, Gabriel 3, Reyes 2, de Guzman 2, Dayrit 1, Udjan 0, Villareal 0, Plema 0, Astoveza 0.
Quarterscores: 17-17, 35-28, 59-43, 78-64.
Fifth Game
PCU (80) – Ordonez 29, Caldozo 28, Vasquez 9, Eusebio 8, Sumalacay 3, Pallatao 2, Okoronkwo 1, de la Cruz 0, Tolentino 0.
MLQU (66) – Llorente 14, Peralta 12, Fabila 11, Sual 8, Pastor 5, Alimasa 5, Gula 5, Jamila 4, Zulueta 2, Teobengco 0, Hermoso 0, Chan 0.
Quarterscores: 13-19, 29-30, 55-46, 80-66.
