Defending champs LNU and UL pummel foes
2010 PRISAA-UCAAP
DEFENDING champion Lyceum Northwestern University (LNU) Dukes and multi-titled University of Luzon (UL) Golden Tigers lived up to their billings as the top two seeds of the tournament by pummeling their respective foes in the opening of the 2010 PRISAA-UCAAP Inter-Collegiate Basketball Championship last Thursday at the Dagupan People’s Astrodome.
The Dukes played precariously in the first three quarters, but finally got its composure and jelled midway in the fourth and final quarter as the team’s five veteran players orchestrated an 8-0 run at the homestretch, beating the much-improved Pangasinan Merchant Marine Academy (PAMMA) Blue Dragons, 80-74.
“My greenhorn boys need more experience in this kind of magnitude game. Hopefully next week we’ll improve,” said the Dukes’ head coach Jason Vinluan.
The Tapuac-based Dukes was led by point-guard Benjie Labitoria rifling a game high 24 points, mostly done from outside the ark and fast break plays. Bolinao son Michael Indoy contributed 19 and center Lionel Manalo added 14.
The Blue Dragons’ prolific forward Anthony Fernandez scored a team high 18 points while Raymund Gonzales contributed 16.
In the last game of the day, the UL Golden Tigers didn’t let the front be wrested by their opponents after seizing the lead and carried on to tame arch-rival University of Pangasinan Flames, 89-80.
Harold Deocares led the onslaught scoring a game high 25 points mostly made at medium range. Point-guard Jonathan Panunciar contributed 14 while John Larry Balmes and neophyte Joshua Gutierrez had 12 and 10 points, respectively.
“We struggled in the early minutes, meaning our rookie players are still raw in this kind of level game. But we’ll get there soon when the time is up especially in the championship,” confidently said by UL head coach Renato “Jack” Vidal.
In other games of the day, PIMSAT plastered AMA Computer Dagupan, 92-73, and Colegio de Dagupan smothered AIE-College, 105-90.
Hostilities resume Monday, July 26, 12:00 noon at the same venue.–JAG, Jr.
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