NCRAA26: CEU d. UL, 98-70

     PASIG CITY – The battle of two undefeated teams turned out to be a walk in the park for Centro Escolar University as they handed University of Luzon its first loss at the 26^th National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) Wednesday at the Saint Joseph Gymnasium of Pasig Catholic College.  Final score was 98-70 and moving the Scorpions to within one more win of sweeping all their seven elimination round assignments.

Tyron Chan submitted his best game of the season thus far with 24 points and 12 rebounds and concentrating on defending the Golden Tigers’ talented big men.  Rich Guinitaran maintained his league-leading scoring form with 21 points and 11 rebounds followed by Keanu Caballero with 12 points and three assists.

Robert Caasi topped the Golden Tigers with 17 points but could only pluck six rebounds on top of three blocks.  Team scoring leader Reynald Ballesteros was next with 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

While CEU is almost assured of topping Group B with their remaining fixture against winless Philippine School of Business Administration-Quezon City, UL’s defeat made the race for the three remaining quarterfinal slot open.  The currently second running Golden Tigers now tote a 4-1 card, slightly ahead of pursuers Pasig Catholic College (3-1), PATTS College of Aeronautics (3-2) and De Ocampo Memorial College (4-2).

How They Scored:

CENTRO ESCOLAR (98) – Chan 24, Guinitaran 21, Ke Caballero 12, Fuentes 9, Uri 8, Ko Caballero 7, Abastillas 6, David 4, Intic 4, Diaz 3.

LUZON (70) – Caasi 17, Ballesteros 13, Torio 11, Quinto 10, Meneses 9, Rosalin 4, Main 4, Balolong 1, Angcap 1, Basan 0, Gagua 0, Dudan Cruz 0.

Period Scores: 19-14, 46-34, 76-49, 98-70.

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NCRAA26: Saint Francis d. DLSU-D, 87-65

     PASIG CITY – Saint Francis of Assisi College formalized its entry into the quarterfinals of the 26^th National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) by scuttling De La Salle University-Dasmarinas, 87-65, Wednesday at the Saint Joseph Gymnasium of Pasig Catholic College.  The Doves finished the elimination round with a 5-2 win-loss record and now await the results of the remaining games to determine their final ranking and quarterfinal opponent.

With the game tied for the last time at 13-13, Kenji Manzanilla closed out the first period with a triple to give Saint Francis the lead for good.  By halftime, the gap widened to 40-28 and there was no denying the Doves.

Avi Arellano recovered from his midseason slump to pump in 22 points in only 24 minutes.  Manzanilla followed with 20 points and four triples while Ryan Chu and JM Cruz grabbed a combined 29 rebounds to win the battle of the boards, 57-42.

John Cantimbuhan led the Patriots with 11 silent points as the defense focused on him.  Rookie Louie Montes followed with 10 points as DLSU-D lost for the fifth straight time after winning their first two games and formally bow out of contention.

How They Scored:

SAINT FRANCIS (87) – Arellano 22, Manzanilla 20, Sumaguit 11, Cruz 10, Larotin 8, Chu 8, Madrid 4, Selorio 3, Legaspi 1, So 0, Ja Guevarra 0, Jo Guevarra 0.

DLSU-DASMARINAS (65) – Cantimbuhan 11, Montes 10, Caronongan 9, Merilles 8, Amponin 7, Lina 6, de Vera 5, Stephenson 5, Ututalum 2, Loor 1, Gamale 1, Loyola 0, Tupaz 0.

Period Scores: 16-13, 40-28, 70-41, 87-65.

NCRAA26: Olivarez d. AIMS, 85-61

     PASIG CITY – Defending champion Olivarez College unearthed a gem of a performance from seldom-used Lance de Leon to frustrate Asian Institute of Maritime Studies, 85-61, in continuing action from the 26^th National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) Wednesday at the Saint Joseph Gymnasium of Pasig Catholic College.  The Sea Lions reclaimed the solo leadership of Group A with their sixth consecutive victory, half a game ahead of the 5-0 Philippine Merchant Marine School.

Arriving with a roster depleted again by injuries and illness, Coach Michael Saguiguit opted to give his rookies and role players starting roles and they rewarded their coach’s confidence by running away with the first period, 20-5.  That was all the Sea Lions needed as the best the Blue Sharks could do was match them basket for basket.

Lance de Leon powered the Sea Lions’ rampage with 19 points and nine rebounds, not bad for someone averaging 0.6 points entering the contest.  He was supported by Iverson Aquiatan with 14 points and six rebounds off the bench and fellow starter Kim Siegue with 12 points, six rebounds and six assists in 36 minutes on the floor.

Ian Dorado paced the Blue Sharks with 14 points.  Zeus Monido was the only other teammate in double figures with 11 points as AIMS absorbed their fifth straight defeat,

How They Scored:

OLIVAREZ (85) – de Leon 19, Aquiatan 14, Siegue 12, Saguiguit 8, Rocero 8, Geronimo 8, Uduba 7, Sala 7, Torres 2.

A I M S (61) – Dorado 14, Monido 11, Gancayco 8, Solatorio 8, Rai 7, Balasabas 4, Mann 4, Inid 3, Belvis 2, Almohallas 0.

Period Scores: 20-5, 40-25, 62-37, 85-61.

NCRAA26: PMMS d. LPU-Laguna, 79-58

     PASIG CITY – Philippine Merchant Marine School asserted its might over Lyceum of the Philippines University-Laguna, 79-58, at the resumption of the 26^th National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) at the Saint Joseph Gymnasium of Pasig Catholic College Wednesday morning.  The Mariners banked on the workman-like effort of forward Bryan Hilario to hack out their fifth win in a row while stalling the Pirates’ march into the quarterfinals.

Playing without relief, Hilario amassed 22 points in the first half alone, two less than the entire opposition.  By then, he helped key a 35-24 Mariners advantage which they never relinquished.

Coach Aldrin Morante decided to rest his prized forward for the final three minutes of the game with the outcome a certainty.  Hilario finished with 33 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks while getting support from Eugene Cabauatan who fired 14 points to go with four rebounds.

The Pirates saw their three-game winning streak come to a halt but remained in contention for the fourth and final quarterfinal berth from Group A.  Shawn Algire bucked early foul trouble to pace his side with 20 points and eight rebounds followed by Jerome Santos with 11 points and eight rebounds.

How They Scored:

P M M S (79) – Hilario 33, Cabauatan 14, Gabat 9, Sunga 7, Attas 7, Carvajal 2, Briones 2, Palomares 2, Bautista 2, Templo 1, Sosing 0.

LYCEUM-LAGUNA (58) – Algire 20, Santos 11, Decena 9, Macatangay 7, Rubuio 4, de Ocampo 2, Natanauan 2, Albaira 2, Aranda 1, Malit 0, Nobleza 0, Liu 0, Tandang 0.

Period Scores: 21-10, 35-24, 54-41, 79-58.

PCCL: San Beda d. Ateneo, 49-43

     SAN JUAN City – NCAA champion San Beda University took Game One of their best of three series versus UAAP champion Ateneo de Manila University for the 2019 Philippine Collegiate Champions League UAAP versus NCAA Champions Showdown at the FilOil Flying V Centre Monday.  Final score was 49-43 in the defensive contest that saw both teams combine for 34 of 120 shooting from the field.

Ironically, former Red Lion William Navarro gave the Blue Eagles their biggest lead of the game twice, the latter at 33-24 with 5:44 left in the third period.  That was the cue for SBU to make their move as Donald Tankoua and Evan Nelle starred in a crippling 14-0 blast to end the period and take control for good, 38-33.

Ateneo tried to rally with Navarro again scoring to threaten, 36-38, but a basket from Clint Doliguez followed by a triple by James Canlas Kwekuteye doused cold water on the rally, 43-36.  Calvin Oftana then knocked in two crucial field goals to maintain their distance and Tankoua sealed the win from the free throw line with eight seconds left.

Tankoua showed the way for the Red Lions with 18 points and nine rebounds as a substitute.  Nelle also came off the bench to add 12 points on three triples.

Angelo Kouame paced the Blue Eagles with 13 points and 21 rebounds.  Bryan Andrade was next with 11 points.

Game Two of the series is set for January 24 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.  If needed, the decider will be played on January 26 at the same venue with the winner arranging a date with the University of the Visayas for the PCCL Presidents Cup on January 28.

How They Scored:

SAN BEDA (49) – Tankoua 18, Nelle 12, Kwekuteye 9, Oftana 4, Soberano 2, Doliguez 2, Etrata 2, Abuda 0, Alfaro 0, Bahio 0, Cuntapay 0, Carino 0, Eugene 0.

ATENEO DE MANILA (43) – Kouame 13, Andrade 11, Navarro 7, Ravena 5, Belangel 5, Mamuyac 2, Mi Nieto 0, Mendoza 0, Go 0, Ma Nieto 0, Credo 0, Berjay 0.

Period Scores: 11-7, 22-24, 38-33, 49-43.

NCRAA26: DOMC d. PATTS, 74-68

     PARANAQUE CITY – De Ocampo Memorial College picked up a very crucial win over home team PATTS College of Aeronautics, 74-68, in the main game Monday at the 26^th National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) at the A. R. Valdez Hall.  The win gives the Cobras a foot inside next month’s quarterfinals while temporarily booting out the Seahorses from the playoff race.

Harold Lescano and EJ Canelas struck heavily from three-point distance in the pivotal fourth period with the fifth and last triple by Canelas erecting a 69-63 advantage with 1:38 to play.  From there, Peter Marc Manalang took over beginning with a spin move in traffic that maintained their six-point lead with a minute remaining and then helped preserve the win via three free throws to hold off a last gasp rally by the Seahorses.

Lescano finished with six triples and a free throw for a total of 19 points and six rebounds.  Canelas followed with four triples for 12 points and four rebounds as it more than made up for the absence of injured team leader Jhonard Clarito.

Jestoni Loyola topped PATTS with 20 points and six rebounds.  Norman Torreno struggled in the first half but got his shooting back in the second half for 18 points and six rebounds while John Reed chipped in 13 points and 10 rebounds.

The Cobras improved to 4-2 and have one more assignment against Pasig Catholic College on February 1.  The Seahorses dropped to 3-2 and fifth place in Group B and must now win versus their last two opponents, Pasig Catholic on January 25 and University of Luzon on February 1, to have a shot at the four quarterfinal slots allotted for Group B.

How They Scored:

DE OCAMPO (74) – Lescano 19, Canelas 12, Pascual 11, de la Cruz 8, Manalang 7, Montojo 5, Artesano 4, Schwartz 4, Atabay 2, Ramos 2, Gallardo 0.

P A T T S (68) – Loyola 20, Torreno 18, Reed 13, Morada 7, Lopez 6, Saliddin 2, Espiritu 2, Palencia 0, J Reyes 0, Bautista 0.

Period Scores: 15-12, 33-26, 52-49, 74-68.

NCRAA26: UL d. Immaculada Concepcion, 73-72

     PARANAQUE CITY – Reynald Ballesteros connected on a triple with six seconds left to lift University of Luzon to the pulsating 73-72 victory over a very game Immaculada Concepcion College at the 26^th National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) from the A. R. Valdez Hall of PATTS College of Aeronautics.  Ballesteros’ heroics came just in time for the Golden Tigers to maintain their spotless 4-0 win-loss record in Group B, half a game behind leader Centro Escolar University (5-0).

The Golden Tigers were actually leading, 70-65, when Axel Ross Nacion starred in a 7-0 run by the Blue Hawks.  Nacion tied the game with a field goal and then fed Joseph Bautista for the go-ahead basket with 18 seconds on the clock.

Left with no more timeouts, UL had to quickly put the ball in play and into the waiting hands of Ballesteros.  The Blue Hawks called for time but the tight UL defense cleanly blocked the attempt at the buzzer to preserve the win.

Ballesteros came off the bench this time but still led all scorers with 18 points on four triples to go with six rebounds.  Robert Caasi was a force underneath with 16 points, 19 rebounds and four blocks while Mario Torio added 13 points, six rebounds and seven assists.

Nacion paced the Blue Hawks with 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals.  Surprise starter Jovy Mendoza chipped in 15 points and five rebounds followed by Jeric Garcia with 11 points and seven rebounds as they fell to 1-5.

How They Scored:

LUZON (73) – Ballesteros 18, Caasi 16, Torio 13, Rosalin 8, Meneses 8, Main 4, Basan 2, Quinto 2, Dudan Cruz 2, Gagua 0.

IMMACULADA CONCEPCION (72) – Nacion 17, Mendoza 15, Garcia 11, Bautista 7, Soriano 6, Cabreros 6, Layar 5, Nuyda 3, Palec 2, Carpio 0, Ilin 0.

Period Scores: 16-25, 32-40, 55-56, 73-72.