Jaguars, Knights gain Sweet 16 slots
By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:10:00 11/13/2008
Filed Under: Basketball
MANILA, Philippines—Letran College kept its bid alive in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League Visayas zonals as the Knights clinched a spot in the Sweet 16 by trouncing the West Negros U Mustangs, 70-58, Tuesday night at the Ormoc Superdome in Ormoc City.
Finding enough energy after surviving a physical contest with University of Cebu, 86-74, Monday night, the Knights used a balanced attack led by skipper RJ Jazul to break away from a tight contest in the third quarter.
University of San Jose-Recoletos also claimed its place in the Sweet 16 by downing UC, 95-87, in an all-Cebu semifinal showdown.
The Knights and Jaguars were to play for the zonal crown Wednesday night.
The Jaguars became the second team from Cebu to move into the Sweet 16, after the University of the Visayas Lancers advanced at their expense in last month’s Cesafi finals.
USJ-R couldn’t solve UC’s torrid outside shooting in the first half as the Webmasters buried nine triples in the first half to grab a 52-45 lead at the break.
But June Mar Fajardo, the Webmasters’ 6-foot-9 center, was hobbled by foul trouble and fouled out with 6:20 left, opening up the shaded lane for USJ-R big men Jan Malinao, Jerome Villaver and Jabe Delfino.
The Webmasters got a break when Malinao left the game with a gash on the head following an accidental collision with Delfino.
Already in the Sweet 16 are UAAP titlist Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, University of the East, Lyceum of the Philippines, San Sebastian College-Cavite, Manuel L. Quezon University and Universal College of Nursing.
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