UCAL hoops: CEU routs University of Batangas to gain solo lead

James Paco of Lyceum-Batangas soars for a layup.

UCAL

Games Thursday

(Paco Arena)

12 p.m. – LPU-B vs MCU

2 p.m. – CEU vs PWU

4 p.m. – Olivarez vs UB

6 p.m. – PCU-D vs ICC

MANILA, Philippines — Centro Escolar University kept its record pristine with a dominant 88-71 victory over University of the Batangas to seize an early solo lead in the PG Flex-UCAL Season 8 Basketball Tournament on Monday, February 16, at the Paco Arena in Manila.

Mark Jade Sarza led four players in double figures as the Scorpions banked on a balanced attack to sting the Brahmans and improve to a 3-0 record.

Meanwhile, LPU-Batangas stunned erstwhile undefeated Diliman, 87-81 to finally barge in the win column.

Also picking up victories were Immaculada Concepcion College and Philippine Christian University-Dasmarinas.

The Blue Hawks finally scored their breakthrough win after fending off the Manila Central University Supremos, 90-84.

Aaron Wico fired 16 points to spearhead the charge for ICC, which weathered a late MCU storm after leading by as many as 17.

The Dolphins, on the other hand, dealt Philippine Women’s University Patriots a 71-41 rout to improve to a 2-1 record. PCU leaned on a blistering first half where it commanded a 43-25 lead and simply never looked back from there.

Alvin Reyes sizzled with 22 points to go with 10 rebounds in the wire-to-wire win. Sarza dropped a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Precious Momowei chipped in 12 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.

Gabrielle Gamboa and Kem Sabsalon fired 14 apiece as CEU led by as many as 23 in the contest that ended with UB also absorbing its first loss in two games.

The Pirates kept the Dragons at bay in the final frame, with James Martin Paco and Kyle Mitra forming a deadly one-two punch with 16 and 15 points, respectively.

Leonard Marana tried to carry the fight for Diliman with 24 points but to no avail as his team still fell to a 2-1 slate. (Pool story)