Defending champion Centro Escolar and St. Clare downed their respective foes with ease yesterday in the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (Naascu) men’s basketball tournament at Makati Coliseum.
Both on hot winning streaks, the unbeaten Scorpions and the Saints roared toward a second-round clash on Sept. 9 that will decide the tournament’s semifinals format.
CEU, which averages 80 points per game, played just hard enough but still routed Diliman Computer Technology, 60-40, for its ninth straight win.
St. Clare blasted Rizal Technological, 76-68, behind the inspired performances of former MVP Jayson Ibay and chief playmaker Marte Gil who made 22 and 16 points, respectively.
Center Jammer Jamito added 14 for the Saints on top of making 13 rebounds, one assist and one steal.
It was the eighth straight win for the Saints, after an opening-day loss to the Scorpions.
St. Clare coach Jinno Manansala, who led the team to the 2012 title, said their focus is to work on their plays for their second-round game against CEU.
CEU can advance outright to the finals with a sweep of the eliminations.