PCCL: Ateneo, San Beda advance to semis

MANILA, Philippines—Ateneo and San Beda took care of their respective opponents and advanced to the semifinals of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League Saturday at Filoil Flying V Center.

The Blue Eagles, the reigning UAAP champions, crushed NCAA king Letran, 79-61, to keep an unblemished 3-0 slate and win the UAAP-NCAA Challenge.

Dwight Ramos and Troy Mallilin had 16 points apiece and combined for 13 rebounds to lead the Blue Eagles while SJ Belangel added 10 points of his own.

Ateneo turned a 35-35 tie at halftime into a massive 65-39 lead after it outscored the Knights 30-4 in the penultimate frame.

In the first game, the NCAA runner-up San Beda repulsed UAAP silver medalist University of Santo Tomas, 77-68, to finish with a 2-1 card.

James Kweku-Teye filled up the box scores with 14 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and four steals but struggled from the field going 5-of-19 in his field goal attempts.

CJ Cansino came up with a near double-double for the Growling Tigers, who tied Letran with a 1-2 card, 21 points and nine rebounds while Brent Paraiso added 12 points.