University of Santo Tomas pulled the rug from under pre-season favorite La Salle while two other squads also scored shutout victories as the inaugural National Collegiate Billiards League got going at the Manila Ocean Park over the weekend.
While the Tigers made short work of the Green Archers, 3-0, Jose Rizal U and St. Clare Colleges also humbled Fatima U and Don Bosco, respectively, to join the opening day winners in the tournament backed by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and GSM Blue.
Gerthee Estrella led UST to victory, clobbering Chester Kevin Labez, 7-1, in 9-ball while Aaron Cedric Gonzales humbled Chester Kevin Labez, 7-3, in 10-ball.
University of the East also edged Far Eastern U, 2-1, and National U downed Lyceum, 2-1.