The Technological Institute of the Philippines Engineers withstood a Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas Dolphins fight back to hack out a 76-68 win in the Universities and Colleges Basketball League Season 3, Monday afternoon at the Olivarez College in Parañaque City.
The Dolphins threatened at 62-64 before Brian Santos, Jopet Soriano, and Russell Tan nailed the key baskets in the final 3:30 as the Engineers kept control.
Coach Potit de Vera was not satisfied the way his troops performed, as TIP squandered a 55-40 lead in the second half.
“We did not execute what we wanted. It did not happen the way we planned it. The composure was lost,” said de Vera.
“I hope it just because the first game jitters that we forgot to play as a team. Hopefully, things get better next Monday against LPU-Batangas,” he added.
Senegal’s Papa Ndiaye led the Engineers with 16 points, 22 rebounds, and five blocks, while Bryan Santos also scored 16 points to go with eight boards.
Venedict Remolacio paced PCU-Dasmariñas with 13 points and six rebounds, while Congo’s Lucien Mulamba added 12 points and 18 rebounds.
Earlier in the day, the Diliman College Blue Dragons set a UCBL-record in scoring, overwhelming newcomers Saint Joseph College-Bulacan Taurus, 126-71, to open their campaign on a smashing note.
Benin’s Kevine Gandjeto had an impressive debut with 20 points, six rebounds, five blocks and two assists. John Mahari added 17 points, eight boards and three assists, while McArthur Enriquez chipped in 13 points and seven assists for the Blue Dragons.
Diliman’s 126 points is the league’s all-time highest output.
The Blue Dragons made 38 assists with playmaker Jaen Salazar accounting for 12, three more than St. Joseph’s total. Diliman also dominated the rebounding department, 59-36.
John Kenneth Taverner led St. Joseph with 16 points, while Richard Salarza was the other player in twin digits with 13 markers.
On Thursday, the LPU-Batangas Pirates take on the CEU Scorpions at 12:00nn. Diliman College then face the Olivarez College Sealions later in the day. Both games will take place at the Olivarez College Gym in Paranaque.
The Scores:
First Game
Diliman 126 – Gandjeto 20, Mahari 17, Enriquez 13, Pacheco 10, Brutas 10, Darang 9, Ligon 9, Digno 8, Salazar E. 8, Bauzon 7, Coquia 6, Sombero 4, Lisika 3, Salazar J. 2, Tay 0.
St. Joseph 71 – Taverner 16, Salarza 13, Buenaventura 7, Esteban 6, Leguin 6, Lozano 6, Bernal 6, Rupinta 5, Intal 4, Cabuhat 2, Adriano 0, Jordan 0.
Quarterscores: 37-22; 63-31; 92-52; 126-71.
Second Game
TIP 76 – Ndiaye 16, Santos B. 16, Soriano 9, Tan 7, Jimenez 7, Sena 6, Santos I. 6, Palisoc 5, Ramos 4, Navarro 0, Ramilo 0, Verzosa 0.
PCU-Dasmariñas 68 – Remolacio 13, Mulamba 12, Crisostomo 10, Diez 8, Austria 7, Palomo 6, Frias 4, Baccol 4, Daitol 4, Mangadan 0, Liza 0, Ordiz 0, Peralta 0.
Quarterscores: 20-14; 35-26; 58-47; 76-68.
