Photo from collegiatechampionsleague.net
MANILA, Philippines — Adamson and Mapua Tuesday got a headstart in its bid to advance in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) after repulsing separate foes in the Metro Manila qualifiers.
UAAP sixth placer Adamson handily beat Interscholastic Athletic Association (Isaa) champion Philippine Merchant Marine School 73-63 in the first game at San Juan Arena.
Jericho Cruz, Jansen Rios, and Celedonio Trollano all scored in double digits, punctuating a balanced attack from the Falcons.
Adamson was in control throughout the game, leading by 24 at halftime but relaxed a bit in the fourth which allowed PMMS to bring down the deficit.
Dhon Reverente paced the PMMS, which still has a shot at a slot in the next round in the next two days, with 17 points.
Mapua, NCAA’s sixth, on the other hand, had to rely on Gab Banal’s fourth quarter explosion to fend off Centro Escolar University 72-66.
Banal topped with 16 points while Josan Nimes added 15 points for the Cardinals, who took down a tough foe in Men’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (MNCAA) titlist CEU.
In the South Luzon-Bicol regionals, University of Batangas captured the qualifier after clobbering Naga College Foundation, 115-83, in Naga City.
The top two squads to emerge in the three-day qualifiers will get a ticket to the Sweet 16 phase of the nationwide tournament.