LNU Dukes trounce UPang Webczars, 68-62
THE much-improved Lyceum the Northwestern University (LNU) Dukes mustered enough energy to seal a 68-62 triumph over the University of Pangasinan (UPang) Webczars in Wednesday’s game for the 2008 Pangasinan-Dagupan Inter-Collegiate Basketball Championship game held at the LNU gym.
The Dukes’ victory avenged their defeat during the two teams’ first encounter on August 20, allowing them to a share of the lead with defending champions University of Luzon (UL) Golden Tigers with an identical card of six wins and one loss.
The Dukes of Atty. Gonzalo Duque, leading by as many 14 points, 35-21, mostly done in fast break plays, found themselves in trouble when the 2005 titlists Webczars staged a blazing comeback that trimmed the gap to a mere point, 46-45 behind Allan Roquin’s heroic plays at the post and penetration moves of guard Virgilio Olero at the start of the fourth and final period,
But the highly-spirited Dukes, with the home court advantage receiving a support from the partisan crowd, returned to form to mount a 9-0 salvo with seldom used forward Vic Calicdan pouring in six consecutive points to lead the Dukes midway at the fourth, 54-45, up to the final buzzer.
And despite the brief scare, coaches Jason Vinluan and Juan Castro commended their wards for responding to the pre-game plan.
“Fortunately, we had enough energy to hang in there to the end. We had a comfortable lead but they made a pretty good run that scared us,” said Castro.
“Our boys were determined to win to break that five-year jinx which bothered us,” echoed Vinluan.
The Webczars’ second loss put them in third place overall behind LNU and UL, but still in contention for the semis slot.
As of press time, the Tigers and Dukes are battling each other and whoever comes out victor will take the solo lead in the month-long tourney.
In the first game of the day, AIE College Eagles survived a cliffhanger match by trimming the stubborn PIMSAT Colleges, 68-65.
In the third and final game, UL mauled the hapless Lingayen-based Pangasinan State University, 106-57.—JAG, Jr.
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