Sealions, Dolphins punch semis bonus

Olivarez College and Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas (PCU-D) secured twice-to-beat advantages in the semifinals after finishing on top at the end of the two-phase eliminations of the UCAL-PGFlex Linoleum 7th Season on Saturday at the Paco Arena in Manila.

The Sealions went to hot-shooting Monsour Proel in the crunch to pull off a thrilling 85-80 win over the hard-fighting WCC — Aeronautical and Technological College and top the elims with a 10-3 mark.

While the Sealions needed a late but gallant push to escape past the Skyhawks , the Dolphins hardly encountered trouble in downing the winless Philippine Women’s University, 79-49, to finish second at 9-4.

Proel erupted for 23 points spiked by five triples — the last one shattered a 76-all count with a little over two minutes. He also had four assists and four rebounds.

Three other Olivarez College players posted in double figures with Rodel Renon adding 16 points while Jhon Patrick Panelo and Hakim Njiasse combined for 25 points.

For claiming the No. 1 seed, the Sealions will face the No. 4 Diliman College Blue Dragons while the second-seeded Dolphins take on the third-ranked Immaculada Concepcion College Bluehawks in the semis on Thursday.

ICC and Diliman wound up tied for third with defending champion Centro Escolar University, Manila Central University and University of Batangas — all with similar 8-5 marks — but took third and fourth places due to superior quotients.