Blue Dragons, Saints reach PCCL regionals
Diliman College and St. Clare emerged as the top two teams in the Metro Manila qualifying games yesterday and advanced to the regional leg of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) at Technological Institute of the Philippines gym.
Both the Blue Dragons and the Saints stayed unbeaten in two games to secure slots in the Luzon-Metro Manila qualifiers, where other squads led by UAAP semifinalist La Salle and NCAA Final Four teams Jose Rizal University and Perpetual Help are waiting.
Initially, only the No. 1 team in the Metro Manila qualifiers was supposed to advance, but Ateneo begged off from the tournament, prompting organizers to award the vacant slot to the No. 2 squad.
The Dragons blasted Philippine College of Criminology, 91-60, just a day after tripping Philippine Merchant Marine School, 58-54, for a 2-0 record in the round-robin tournament.
“In this qualifying, our teamwork helped us,” coach Rensy Bajar said of his Dragons, the reigning National Collegiate Basketball League (NCBL) champion.
“We just have to continue it. The players are excited. We are fortunate to have this opportunity and we’re enjoying it.”
The Saints, meanwhile, clobbered the PMMS Mariners, 71-59, after an opening-day win over the PCCR Panthers, 83-74.
