MANILA, Philippines - UAAP champion Ateneo and NCAA titlist San Sebastian lived up to their billing as favorites, asserting their might versus Santo Tomas and Letran to make the Final Four of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League at the Ynares Arena in Pasig yesterday.
The Blue Eagles pounded the Tigers in the final period and hacked out an 81-72 victory that sent them to the semifinal round against the San Beda Red Lions.
The Stags, meanwhile, buckled down to work early and dominated a badly crippled Letran side for an 84-65 win that lined them up for a semis duel with the FEU Tamaraws.
The semifinal matches are slated Monday, determining the two schools which will slug it out for the national crown and the cash prize of P.5 million in the event sponsored by PLDT, Smart, ABS-CBN, Pagcor, The Philippine STAR and Molten.
Kirk Long put in 19 points on six-of-11 field-goal shooting while Justin Chua had double-double numbers with 15 points and 14 rebounds as the Eagles walloped the Tigers even in the absence of two key players in Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Ryan Buenafe.
Minus Al-Hussaini and Buenafe, the Eagles still lorded it over the boards, getting 16 more rebounds and 10 more fast break points than the Tigers.
Allen Maliksi made a game-high 25 points while Dylan Ababou was also out, joining Al-Hussaini, Buenafe and the rest of the Smart Gilas team in a game versus Alaska Milk in the PBA over at the Araneta Coliseum.
San Sebastian, with an intact lineup, had an easy time disposing off Letran in their own quarters tiff.
The Knights hardly got a chance versus the Stags as they played minus key players RJ Jazul, Rey Guevarra and Junjun Alas.
After yielding the first basket to the Knights, the Stags answered with a 10-0 roll, closed the opening quarter at 31-10 and refused to slow down till the end.
The Stags rediscovered their form after struggling for a 76-68 overtime win over the San Carlos Warriors in Ormoc, Leyte Monday.
Jimbo Aquino, the NCAA MVP awardee, personally set the tone of the rout early as he went 6-of-6 for 14 points in the opening quarter.
Aquino and his teammates stayed hot and composed throughout the match marred by seven flagrant fouls.
“We really wanted to win that’s why we kept our composure and never retaliated even as we’re hit by our opponents,” said SSC center Ian Sangalang.
First Game
Ateneo 81 – Long 19, Chua 15, Salamat 13, Sumalinog 10, Baclao 9, Gonzaga 8, Salva 4, Reyes 3, Monfort 0.
UST 72 – Maliksi 25, Bautista 12, Teng 10, Mirza 9, Mariano 5, Fortuna 5, Afuang 4, Camu 2, Marquez 0, Felix 0.
Quarterscores: 19-23, 38-42, 58-56, 81-72
Second Game
San Sebastian 84 – Aquino 18, Sangalang 16, Pascual 11, Abueva 8, Semira 7, Del Rio 6, Raymundo 6, Maconocido 4, Najorda 3, Gatchalian E. 2, Marquez 2, Bulawan 1, Gatchalian j. 0.
Letran 65 – Belencion 18, Del Rosario 14, Foronda 11, Alas 8, Gutilban 5, Taplah 4, Cortez 3, Malabago 2, Tantin 0, Ang 0.
Quarterscores: 31-10, 52-23, 67-43, 84-65
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