TOKYO—One champion team got the boot early in the World University Basketball Series tournament here as National Chengchi University of Chinese Taipei eliminated the host country’s No. 1 team, Tokai University, 81-73, Friday at Yoyogi National Stadium gym here.
The Griffins got 18 points and 12 rebounds from Mouhamed Mbaye and twin digits from two others in bundling out the Seagulls, runners-up to Ateneo last year, and setting a KO match with fancied Radford University of the United States.
A US NCAA Division 1 team, the Highlanders flexed their muscles in scoring a 100-63 demolition of Korea University.
NCCU and Radford battle Saturday at 3 p.m.
Meanwhile, Hakuoh, which placed second to Tokai in their collegiate league here, showed no mercy in destroying Perbanas Institute of Indonesia, 97-49, priming up for their semifinal clash against the winner of the Ateneo-Sydney University clash to be played at 6:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. in Manila).
Ateneo coaching staff led by the decorated Tab Baldwin was able to scout Hakouh in the first three quarters, seeing how the Japanese built a 48-13 lead at the half and maintaining control despite dogged comeback attempts by the Indonesians.