St. Clare downs CEU, sweeps first round

Rugged point guard Jeff Viernes drilled in a three-pointer and then canned two insurance free throws in the final two minutes as St. Clare turned back Centro Escolar, 72-69, Tuesday to complete a  first-round sweep of the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (Naascu) men’s basketball tournament at Makati Coliseum.

Viernes, a prized acquisition from the defunct University of Manila along with fellow playmaker Eugene Torres, finished with 25 points, while Torres added 17 for the Saints’ seventh straight win in as many games.

CEU took an early  17-11 lead on Axel Garcia’s three-pointer, but Viernes sparked a 14-0 spurt that gave the Saints a 43-32 lead. The Scorpions cut the lead down to 62-58, but Viernes took over in the clutch.

AMA Computer downed Trace College, 85-74, at Lumera Towers in Manila. STI imposed itself on City University of Pasay, 100-51, in another game.