Propped up by forward Wowie Escosio, the UV Lancers overwhelmed University of San Jose-Recoletos, 79-55, to advance in the Sweet 16 ladder.
The Lancers, who held the Jaguars to just two points in the third quarter for a 34-point buffer, 65-31, also had Came-roonian center Steve Akomo and Rene Saycon backstopping Escosio, the rookie MVP in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi).
Earlier, the HTC Wildcats surprisingly routed the favored West Negros University, 101-77.
Chris Masaglang fueled the early surge for a game-high 20 points and Meylan Landicho also knocked in 18, including eight straight in one stretch that pushed the Wildcats ahead by 20 points, 70-50, in the third quarter.
The Wildcats and the Lancers clash in another knockout match at 2 p.m. today, where the winner will advance against Cesafi champ Southwestern University.
UAAP’s National University and NCAA’s San Sebastian, both third placers in their leagues, collide in the Metro Manila bracket in the second game at 4.
McDenver Polistico, Kevin Pragados and Reymar Roxas helped put the game away for the Wildcats, the General Santos City squad that won the Mindanao leg.
The WNU Mustangs, the Visayas leg champions, only came within a bucket once, 23-21, before the Wildcats responded with a 13-3 run to stretch the lead back to double figures, 36-24.
Meanwhile, juniors champions Far Eastern University, San Beda and Sacred Heart School tangle in curtain-raisers for the Final Four round starting this Sunday.
Dubbed as the “Game of Junior Champs,” the exhibition games will be for the benefit of the ABS-CBN Foundation project “Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig.” Jasmine W. Payo