Sealions sizzle clinch No. 1 slot

Olivarez College clinched the No. 1 seed at the close of the first phase of eliminations with a 75-60 manhandling of Philippine Women’s University in the UCAL-PGFlex Linoleum 7th Season on Thursday at the Paco Arena in Manila.

So overpowering were the Sealions that they needed just one good start — an explosive one — to take the fight out of the Patriots to finish with an 8-1 card in the 10-school league.

Hakim Njiasse, one of the top foreign-student athletes in the league, saw action only for nearly 18 minutes but still emerged the top performer of the game with 17 points and 10 rebounds — a far cry from his 30-point and 30-rebound showing in their 94-69 drubbing of WCC-Aeronautical and Technological College last Monday.

Host Diliman College eked out a 74-72 win after holding off the spirited comeback of University of Batangas to improve its mark to 6-3 — also the same record of its victim.

Njiasse was ably supported by Jhon Patrick Panela and Monsour Proel with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The Patriots finished the round without a win.

With John Bernard Parista leading the way, the Blue Dragons outscored the Brahmans, 25-8, in the third to take a 66-47 advantage going into the final period.

The Brahmans rallied furiously but they ran out of time.

The second round of the elims begins on Saturday with the Sealions leading Group 1, along with Nos. 3, 5, 7 and 9, while the other group will be comprised of Nos. 1, 4, 6, 8 and 10.

Both groups will play another round carrying their win-loss records and the two finishers enjoying twice-to-beat advantages in the knockout semis.