The Saint Clare College of Caloocan Saints and the De Ocampo Memorial College Cobras racked up contrasting wins to jump-start the 18th National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities season, Tuesday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
Defending champion Saints swept away the Enderun Colleges Titans, 96-72.
The Saints showed the seriousness of their drive for a historic three-peat by whitewashing the Titans.
Substitutes Russel Fuentes and Joseph Penaredondo formed an outside-inside combination to tally 13 points each and underscore their team’s depth.
The win spoiled the Enderun-debut of former California Golden Bears Valandre Chauca, who had 15 points.
On the other hand, the Cobras needed overtime to survive the De La Salle Araneta University Stallions, 83-81.
Regulation play ended at 73-73 all.
In the overtime, the Cobras banked on their veteran poise with Raymart Atabay and Harold Lescano nailing back to back triples as they led for good, 80-73.
Lescano, EJ Canelas, and Tyrone de la Cruz led the Cobras with 10 points each. DOMC placed second to Saint Clare last season.
In other games, the New Era University Hunters formally opened hostilities with a 70-64 triumph over the Philippine Christian University Dolphins.
Prolific Jeff Comia scattered 13 of his 24 points in a second period romp while center Adzar Udjan supported him with 10 points, seven rebounds and four blocks.
It was also a good start for Our Lady of Fatima University Phoenix as they crushed crowd favorite City University of Pasay Green Eagles, 94-67.
Veteran guard Miguel Bryan Cabrera showed the way with 16 points, five rebounds and three assists with fellow starting guard Jeremy Troy Sarona chipped in 15.
NAASCU Seniors action resumes Thursday (September 13) with five games at the Rizal Technological University Gym in Mandaluyong City. The featured contest pits home side RTU against the league’s newest member National Teachers College at 2:00 PM.
The Scores:
First Game
New Era 70 – Comia 24, Udjan 12, Bringas 6, Marticio 6, Plema 6, de Guzman 4, Astoveza 4, Castillo 4, de la Cruz 2, Reyes 2, Villareal 0.
PCU 64 – Vasquez 23, Ordonez 13, Palattao 5, Eusebio 5, Abrigo 4, Sumalacay 4, Okoronkwo 3, Tolentino 3, Caldozo 2, de la Cruz 2, Aurellano 0, Lo 0.
Quarterscores: 15-19, 43-33, 61-45, 70-64.
Second Game
Saint Clare 96 – Penaredondo 13, Fuentes 13, Pare 12, Palencia 10, Tecson 9, Hallare 8, Rebugio 8, Santos 6, Catura 5, Fontanilla 5, de Leon 4, Decano 2, Joven 1, Biteng 0, Rubio 0,
Enderun 72 – De La Cruz 15, Chauca 15, Nunez 9, Gatdula 9, Tancioco 5, Oebanda 4, Maagdenberg 4, Goethals 4, Francisco 2, Mulvhill 2, Veloso 2, Dungan 1, Khatri 0, Mariano 0, Sacundo 0, Santos 0.
Quarterscores: 25-25, 42-40, 67-53, 96-72.
Third Game
Our Lady of Fatima 94 – Cabrera 16, Sarona 15, Dalupang 12, Evardo 8, Dalupang 8, Diosa 7, Bacay 7, Espiritu 7, Diao 6, Suria 4, de Vera 3, Pastrana 1, Hoyohoy 0.
Pasay 67 – Aquino 20, J de la Cruz 12, Palmenco 6, Padilla 6, Catarbas 6, Kishimoto 5, Escabarte 5, Celestino 3, Gatchalian 2, Condado 2, Polintan 0,Manalang 0, K Villagomez 0, C Villagomez 0, Acidre 0.
Quarterscores: 26-15, 44-27, 68-44, 94-67.
Fourth Game
De Ocampo 83 – Canelas 10, Lescano 10, de la Cruz 10, Montojo 9, Atabay 9, Manalang 8, Ramos 7, Pascual 6, Artesano 5, Licardo 5, Gallardo 2, Schwartz 2, Reyes 0, Sabasaje 0, Gutierrez 0.
DLSA 81 – Lorenzo 14, Aquino 13, Iloka 13, de la Torre 9, Batungbakal 8, Esteban 6, Bautista 6, del Rosario 5, Albajera 3, Briones 2, Correche 1, Pena 1, Batan 0.
Quarterscores: 20-23, 39-47, 59-63, 73-73, 83-81.
