CEU, Olivarez keep spots on top

Centro Escolar University (CEU) and defending champion Olivarez College kept their 1-2 positions in the PG Flex-Universities and Colleges Athletic Association (UCAL) Season 8 basketball tournament after besting their respective rivals on Thursday at the Paco Arena.

Banking heavily on another well-balanced attack, the Scorpions hacked out a 72-57 win over Philippine Women’s University (PWU) to extend their winning run to four games.

The Olivarez Sea Lions, meanwhile, drew 14 points and seven rebounds from Essissima Menguele and 11 points from Rodel Renon to tame University of Batangas, 81-67, to likewise remain undefeated in three games.

In other games, Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas (PCU-D) picked up its third win in four games after beating Immaculada Concepcion College, 90-85, and Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas scored an 80-75 win over Manila Central University.

For the fourth straight game, Precious Momowei tallied a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Christ Jay Singson led all CEU scorers with 13.

Jacob Oriza and Jacob Emannuel Danganan tried to save PWU from absorbing its fourth straight loss but their gutsy efforts came too late.

Through the torrid shooting of Alvin Reyes, Angus Geronimo and Jayr Pronda, the PCU-D Dolphins looked headed to a runaway win after posting a commanding 81-60 lead going into the final 10 minutes of the game.

The Blue Hawks threatened to turn things around after rallying furiously through the efforts of Aaron Wico, Joshua Bulante and Jon Arimado.

Good thing for the Dolphins, they weathered the storm after making a couple of defensive stops in the critical period of the game.

Reyes once again emerged as the best performer for the day with 26 points spiked by three triples.

Kyle Mitra led four LPU-B players in double figures with 15, while Terry Mark finished with 12 points and 13 boards in the event backed by Akari, Advance Solutions Inc., Smart Sports, Spalding, Quintana Sports, Crane Faucet, Hapee Toothpaste, CafeFrance, Vital, TopFlite Academy, Maruyama, and Gerry’s Grill, Mighty Bond, and Undfitd Sportswear.