INQUIRER Sports

THE University of San Carlos Warriors? bid for a slot in the ?Sweet 16? of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League got off to a rocky start after they were outlasted by the Arellano University Chiefs, 74-79, in the zonal qualifying stage yesterday at the West Negros Gym in Bacolod City.

The Warriors were looking to make it back to the quarterfinal stage of the country?s most prestigious gathering of collegiate basketball champions and had the inside track on their first win as they led for most of the game before collapsing in the final period. USC made it to the ?Sweet 16? last year by virtue of their third place finish but were eliminated by eventual champions De La Salle University.

USC once again won third place this season but rule changes in the tournament prompted them to go through the zonal eliminations. They led 17-13 after the first 10 minutes of play and also were ahead at halftime, 33-29, behind the hot shooting of CESAFI Mythical Five member Giovanni Padillo and versatile forward Sam Hermosa.

However, the Chiefs, fifth placers in the NCAA basketball tournament, came alive in the second half and rallied behind the effective play of Mythical Team member Gio Ciriacruz and PBL veteran Adrian Celada to take a 52-50 lead entering the final period.

The Warriors were ahead 62-61 with 4:15 left in the game but suddenly crumbled, committing two straight turnovers that Arellano converted for a 68-62 lead. USC got to within four, 69-73, with less than a minute remaining but the Chiefs held steady down the stretch.

Celada led the Chiefs with 21 points while Padillo paced the Warriors with a game-high 23 points. Mike Cantonao and Hermosa wound up with 14 and 13 markers respectively.