USC Warriors upend Lancers, boost PCCL title bid

University of San Carlos stayed in the title hunt as the best performing Visayas team in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League Monday night at Cebu City Coliseum.

Leaning on the heroics of Shooster Olago and Ian Tagapan, the USC Warriors outlasted the University of the Visayas Green Lancers, 78-74, to wrap up their Elite Eight campaign with a 3-1 record.

The Lancers finished with a 2-2 slate, while Southwestern University wound up winless after the Cobras, the reigning Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) champion, dropped their fourth assignment to Arellano, 77-61.

Now the Warriors wait whether they have a shot at a title berth after the Manila teams play their remaining Elite Eight games at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City starting this Friday.

At the end of the round, the top two teams will advance to the best-of-three championship series, while the next two battle in a knockout duel for third place.

Proving they can keep pace with the top guns, the Warriors displayed steely nerves much like in their upset wins over UAAP runner-up Far Eastern U, 88-74, and Cesafi tormentor SWU, 74-68.

Olago topscored with 16 points, the last two on crucial free throws that gave the Warriors a 76-73 lead with 36.9 seconds left after the Lancers moved within a point, 74-73.

The Warriors sealed the game with Tagapan nailing two more pressure-packed free throws with 4.4 ticks left.

On Friday, defending champion La Salle tries to stretch its unbeaten run to three versus San Beda (1-0)  at 2 p.m.

Arellano, which improved to 1-1 following its wins over SWU, takes on FEU (0-1) in the second game at 4 p.m. Jasmine W. Payo

The scores:

First Game
USC 78—Olago 16, Rabat 12, Toyambi 10, Magat 9, Pepito 9, Igna 8, Tagapan 5, Lim 4, Malana 3, Adlawan 2.
UV 74—Akomo 22, Arong 15, Abad 10, Manzo 9, Octobre 7, Codilla 6, Perolino 2, Aguirre 2, Soliva 1.
Quarters: 20-16, 40-41, 64-54, 78-74
Second Game
ARELLANO 77—Jalalon 15, Hernandez 13, Holts 9, Salado 9, Cadavis 8, Tano 6, Enriquez 4, Salcedo 4, Gumaru 3, Nicholls 3, Meca 2, Bangga 0, De Guzman 0, Ortega 0.
SWU 61—Tallo 16, Mohammed 11, J.R. Parker 8, Valdor 8, Bregondo 6, Goloran 6, J.J. Parker 2, Luz 2, Acuno 2, Pardo 0, Holper 0, Labitad 0, Racho 0.
Quarters: 18-16, 32-25, 51-47, 77-61