Doves, Taiwanese in final

St. Francis of Assisi and Chinese-Taipei pulled off contrasting victories yesterday to advance to the finals of the second Asian University Basketball Championship (AUBC) at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Drawing big numbers from Al Vergara, the Doves scuttled a listless Beijing Shougong Industrial College, 72-54, while Chinese-Taipei made key defensive stops down the stretch to escape with an 81-80 win over College of St. Benilde.

Vergara more than made up for Yancy De Ocampo’s absence as he scored 22 points while Yancy’s brother Ranidel tossed in 12 points for the Doves, who posted their fourth victory in five games.

De Ocampo missed the game since he would suit up for Welcoat in a crucial Philippine Basketball League Chairman’s Cup semifinal game last night.

Vergara and Ranidel took charge in a 21-12 run which eventually had the Doves leading by 19 at halftime, 41-22.

But while the Doves, who edged the Taiwanese, 79-78, in their initial meeting last Sunday, had an easy time against the Chinese squad, Chinese-Taipei found the Blazers, the defending NCAA titlists, a tough nut to crack. — Joey Villar