INQUIRER Sports

NAGA CITY, Philippines--La Salle dumped St. Francis of Assissi College, 52-42, Friday night to move to within a victory of clinching the last ?Sweet 16? berth of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League in Naga City.

It was the second straight victory in the Metro Manila-South Luzon-Bicol zonal tournament for the Archers, who ruled the national finals last year by beating arch rival Ateneo.

La Salle could wrap up the ?Sweet 16? berth with a victory over winless University of Nueva Caceres late yesterday. The Doves, who fell to 1-1, were to play Don Bosco-Mandaluyong yesterday.

The Archers are looking to become the fifth UAAP team to make the national finals of the series backed by Smart and PLDT. The ?Sweet 16? starts Nov. 23 at the Ynares Sports Arena.

Peejay Barua topscored with 15 points, while rookie Arvie Bringas, Maui Villanueva and Hyram Bagatsing combined for 20 for the Archers, who clinched a berth in the zonals by finishing sixth in the UAAP. Cedelf P. Tupas