Doves overwhelm Hawks, advance to finals vs Cebu

STA. CRUZ, Laguna -- St. Francis of Assisi overpowered University of Manila with its towering frontline and plucked out an easy 79-57 victory Thursday to arrange a title showdown with Cebu Doctors' College in the Belle Corporation-54th National Students Basketball Championships here.

Cebu Doctors trounced fellow Region VII bet Salazar Institute of Technology, 79-64, in the other semifinal at the New San Luis Sports Complex.

The final between the survivors of the 14-team collegiate field will be held Friday after the battle for third place between UM and Salazar Institute.

With 6-foot-8 Yancy de Ocampo, 6-6 Erwin Sotto, 6-9 Frederick Canlas and 6-5 Ranidel de Ocampo alternately pounding the boards and Roy Billanes hitting from the outside, the Doves pulled away from a 41-36 halftime count to deny the Hawks the chance to defend their crown.

Billanes canned six triples to topscore for the Gabby Velasco-mentored Doves with 18 points, followed by Rudy Espino with 16 and De Ocampo with 14.

Philippine Basketball league veterans Eugene Tan and Ferdinand Go led the Hawks with 19 and 13 points, respectively.

The Cebu Doctors-Salazar Institute tussle followed a similar course with Cebu Doctors building up its 32-28 halftime lead early in the second half though the penetrations of Dennis Cabingkis and the jumpers of Danny delos Santos. Cabingkis finished with 16 points and Delos Santos 15.

Salazar Institute drew 13 points from Bernie Unsan.

The two-in-one tournament is sponsored by Belle Corp. and supported by Mobile Express, Jaspage 1441, Plasterglass, Eastern Securities, Wealth Securities, La Suerte-Telengtan Bros. and Digitel Communication.

In the high school division being held at the Paete municipal court, University of Visayas got the chance to defend its title against Iloilo Central Commercial High also Friday.

Meantime, Basketball Association of the Philippines secretary general Graham Lim announced that the 55th edition of the National Students will be held in Baguio City next year.