The Olivarez College Sea Lions are on the cusp of a first round sweep while the Diliman College Blue Dragons moved in a tie with Centro Escolar University in second place in the Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) Season 3 Monday.
The Sea Lions made quick work of St. Joseph College of Bulacan, 91-68, and extend their perfect run to five games, while the Diliman thwarted Technological Institute of the Philippines, 92-90, at the Olivarez College in Parañaque City.
Finding their opponents surprisingly a tough nut to crack having led by only seven at the halftime break, the Sea Lions needed a third quarter breakaway to preserve their undefeated streak
Diliman squandered a 66-50 lead but displayed tremendous composure down the stretch to post its fourth win in five contests.
Paulo Castro led Olivarez with 22 points while Vinny Begaso and Chris Lalata each scored 10 points.
Robbi Darang paced Diliman with 28 points, John Mahari added 23 points, four assists and three rebounds while Benin’s Kevine Gandjeto had a double-double effort of 11 points and 11 boards.
The Sea Lions aim for the 6-0 first round sweep against Diliman on Thursday.
Bryan Santos came through with 21 points and 12 rebounds, Jopet Soriano had 15 points and eight boards while Senegal’s Papa Ndiaye added 13 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks for the Engineers, who fell at 2-3.
St. Joseph, meanwhile, remained winless in five starts.
The Scores:
First Game
Diliman 92 – Darang 28, Mahari 23, Gandjeto 11, Bauzon 10, Coquia 8, Brutas 5, Salazar 4, Lisika 2, Enriquez 1, Ligon 0.
TIP 90 – Santos B. 21, Soriano 15, Ndiaye 13, Jimenez 12, Tan 9, Ramilo 6, Santos I. 6, Palisoc 4, Ramos 4, Navarro 0, Verzosa 0.
Quarterscores: 25-18, 57-48, 77-68, 92-90.
Second Game
Olivarez 91 – Castro 22, Begaso 10, Lalata 10, Yani 9, Uduba 9, Terania 8, Saguiguit 5, Sala 5, Siegue 5, De Leon 4, Geronimo 2, Santos 2, Almajeda 0, Completo 0, Rocero 0.
SJC-B 68 – Leguin 15, Salarza 14, Lorzano 12, Buenaventura 10, Rupinta 8, Esteban 6, Bernal 3, Taverner 0, Barbacena 0, Adriano 0, Jordan 0.
Quarterscores: 27-15, 41-34, 65-50, 91-68.
