Naascu finals under way; UM Hawks eye 6th title

MANILA—University of Manila tries to move closer to a record sixth title as it clashes with STI at 12 noon Wednesday in Game 1 of their best-of-three series for the 10th Naascu men’s basketball championship at the Makati Coliseum.   With explosive sophomore Jeff Alvin Viernes and rookie aces Rhandelle Colina and Eugene Torres leading the way, the UM Hawks are fancied to end a five-year title drought in the league.   Centro Escolar and Our Lady of Fatima U also begin their title showdown in the juniors division at 10 a.m.   The Hawks gained the finals after crushing Centro Escolar, 89-61, while the Olympians forged a championship duel with an 82-48 demolition of Informatics International College.   UM and STI are meeting in the finals for the third time.