La Salle, NU smother rivals, enter Sweet 16
MANILA, Philippines - La Salle and National U overpowered their respective rivals yesterday to gain berths in the Sweet 16 at the close of the National Capital Region elimination of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League at The Arena in San Juan City.
The Archers outclassed the Centro Escolar University Scorpions throughout and coasted to an easy 79-51 victory for a spot in the main tournament firing off Nov. 19 at the same venue.
“So far, so good,” said La Salle coach Gie Abanilla, who opted to let assistant coach Tyrone Bautista run the show for the second straight game while trying to familiarize himself with his new squad.
Earlier, the Bulldogs imposed their might in routing over the University of Manila Hawks, the National Athletic Association of Schools and Colleges and Universities champions, in another lopsided contest, 103-74.
La Salle, with patron Danding Cojuangco among the spectators, had all its 11 players scoring with Joshua Webb and Almond Vosotros scoring 14 points apiece and Jarelan Tampus churning out a 12-point output.
Cameroonian Emmanuel Mbe dominated inside en route to a game-high 29-point effort while Reden Celda and Ledner Labingisa added 14 and 11 points, respectively, for the Bulldogs.
NU drubbed Lyceum, 84-74, last Tuesday while La Salle held off Mapua, 56-51, last Wednesday.
NU and La Salle will face the winners of the Northern Luzon and South Luzon/Bicol eliminations next week.
The Northern Luzon qualifier features the champion teams from Vigan in Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan and Baguio while the Bicol leg will include squads from Quezon, Tabaco in Albay, Naga City, Sorsogon and Batangas.
Source: http://www.philstar.com/sportsarticle.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=69&articleid=746822&keyword=sp_pba
