UPHR, UM stamp mark in nat’l studes

LUCENA – University of Perpetual Help of Rizal scored a second straight win with a 74-48 whipping of Lyceum of Batangas while University of Manila debuted with a 114-61 thrashing of City College of Tuguegarao in day two of the 58th National Students Basketball Championship at the Quezon Convention Center here yesterday.

The Altas, the tournament second seed from the National Capital Region, drew explosive performances from Jon Refuerza and Vladimir Joe as they virtually put a lock on a quarterfinals slot in Group C.

Jovit Gomez, Louie Aquino and Ronnie Matias, meanwhile, starred for the Hawks as they feasted on the hapless Cagayanons in a rousing debut in the annual tourney organized by the Basketball Association of the Philippines in cooperation with the provincial government headed by Gov. Willie Enverga and Lucena City Mayor Ramon Talaga.

The three-time NAASCU champion Hawks, under coach Loreto Tolentino and team manager Atty. Ernesto delos Santos, go for an outright quarters slot in Group D as they take on their University of Mindanao counterparts at 6:30 p.m. today.

Gomez fired 29 points, Aquino 19 and Matias 17 with Gener Bernados, Juan Uao III and Ryan Regalado adding 11 points or more.

In Group A, Angeles University Foundation relied on a balance offensive anchored on Allan Hicban and Mennard Guevarra to whip Urios College, 80-55, and clinch a quarters slot in Group A, along with opening-day winner and NCR champion Philippine Maritime Institute. The PMI Mariners downed Urios, 84-62.

AUF and PMI clash today at 11 a.m. for the top berth in Group A.

Host team Enverga University downed Our Lady of Lourdes of Bicol Region, 86-62, for an even 1-1 (win-loss) record in Group D.

Christian Alcala, a 17-year old find from Taliban, Pagbilao, Quezon, led the host team with 22 points, including 14 in the third quarter, to bounce back from a heartbreaking 73-67 loss to University of Baguio on Monday.