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AS ARELLANO University inched closer to a second consecutive Sweet 16 berth, University of San Carlos bounced back from a close loss by clamping down on host West Negros University in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League zonal tournament at the WNU Gym in Bacolod City last November 5, 2009.

The Chiefs, who finished their maiden NCAA campaign with a respectable 8-10 record, put the cuffs on upstart Holy Trinity College, 108-47, before the Warriors staved off a late Mustang charge to pull off a 71-57 win before a hostile home crowd.

The Legarda unit put the game away early as it buried five triples in the opening quarter alone. High-wire act Jerry Miranda, who himself canned six three-point baskets, paced coach Junjie Ablan’s troops with 24 points. Isiah Ciriacruz and 5’1 playmaker Bimbot Anquilo each chipped in with 13 markers as Arellano eliminated the Wildcats, first-time entrants in the PCCL, from Sweet 16 contention.

In the second game, USC kept its own round-of-16 bid alive thanks to the stellar play of slotman Joven Cortes and ex-University of the Philippines Integrated School standout Jacques Bautista. The pair, who combined for just six points in the previous day’s loss to Arellano, had 26 points between them against WNU, 11-time defending NOPSSCEA champions.

USC led early and was able to withstand a West Negros charge, which was able to trim the Warrior lead to nine at the three-minute mark. However, the Cebuanos’ advantage was good enough to seal the victory. Captain ball Alfie Villariza led the Mustangs with 20 points. Also of note was the sub-par game of his teammate Jetric Sumido. After scoring 14 points against HTC yesterday, he hit blanks all game and failed to register a single marker.

The zonal’s final playdate will see the Warriors and Wildcats collide at 4:30 p.m., followed by Arellano and WNU’s matchup at 6 p.m on November 6. A Mustang loss, coupled with a Warrior win, will knock off the hosts from Sweet 16 play for the second straight year. The last time WNU reached that stage was in 2007, where it absorbed a defeat at the hands of Jose Rizal University.

The top two teams from this zonal advance to the round of 16.

The Scores:

First Game

Arellano 108 – Miranda 24, I. Ciriacruz 13, Anquilo 13, G. Ciriacruz 10, Catapang 10, Celada 9, Agustin 6, Apostol 4, Salcedo 4, Tayongtong 4, Reducto 4.

HTC 47 – Masaglang 10, Pragados 9, Roxas 7, Desaville 4, Versoza 3, de Mesa 3, Lamanilao 3, de Leon 2, Landricho 2, Masana 2, Esguerra 2.

Quarter scores: 23-8, 44-21, 73-41, 108-47.

Second Game

USC 71 – Cortes 14, Bautista 12, Padillo 10, Gallarde 7, Hermosa 7, Cantonao 6, Otida 4, Bakker 4, Panerio 3, Codilla 2, Padayao 2.

WNU 58 – Villariza 20, Jacinto 11, Jaca 9, Dapar 4, Suyod 4, Javelona 3, Lauron 2, Sumido 0, Agudelo 0, Merin 0.

Quarter scores: 17-16, 35-25, 54-43, 71-57.

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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