Manila Central University turned back Philippine Women’s University in the battle of league newcomers, securing a 78-64 victory in the Universities and Colleges Athletic League-PG Flex Linoleum Season 6 on Thursday, Feb. 8 at the Paco Arena.
The Supremos unleashed a 24-5 explosion in the fourth quarter that all but tore the game apart after a tightly contested first three quarters.
Bi Tizie Yannick Dje was a dominant force inside the paint with 26 points and 13 rebounds, while Ralph Tadeo and Raphael Perhis provided outside sniping, finishing with 15 points each in MCU’s second win after six games.
Despite Daniel Santelices contributing 16 points for PWU, the team remained winless through seven contests in the tournament.
In the other game, Knyl Rosita scored a clutch layup off a Tristan Gad assist to lift Lyceum of the Philippines – Batangas to a 104-101 overtime win over Guang Ming College.
Gad finished with 20 points, while Alpha Bah led the way with 25 points and 12 rebounds as the Pirates averted a huge collapse after allowing Guang Ming to come back from a 16-point deficit.
LPU improved to a 3-2 record, while GMC fell to a 2-4 slate.
Philippine Christian University – Dasmarinas remained at the top of the standings with a 5-1 record, although it suffered its first defeat at the hands of Diliman College, 75-68, in the third game last Monday, Feb. 5.
Robbi Darang and Axl Taporco collaborated with 19 and 18 points, respectively, as the Blue Dragons led by as many as 17 points before staving off repeated runs from the Dolphins in the second half.
Diliman improved to a 2-3 record.
