Cards claw UL dribblers, move to 'Sweet 16'

TG Guillermo and Ian Mazo stepped up and combined for 32 points as Mapua waylaid University of Luzon, 77-59, yesterday to clinch the ninth spot in the “Sweet 16” of the 2008 Philippine Collegiate Champions League at the Makati Coliseum.

Guillermo scattered 18 points while Mazo tossed in 14 points as they took over for the Cardinals, who hardly missed the services of 2007 NCAA MVP Kelvin dela Peña, who is now in the PBA.

“We needed someone to take charge in place of Kelvin,” said Mapua coach Leo Isaac. “At least in this game, we saw players who stepped up.”

The Cardinals thus joined the eight early qualifiers, all champions in their respective leagues including the UAAP’s Ateneo and the NCAA’s San Beda, in the main draw.

Mapua will play College and Universities Sports Association titlist Manuel Luis Quezon U in the first round.

University of Santo Tomas, the 2006 UAAP champion, and Lyceum, meanwhile, posted their first wins in the first of a series of qualifiers to stay in the hunt.

The Tigers, backstopped by several PBL standouts, overpowered the St. Louis dribblers from Baguio City, 102-52, while the Pirates outlasted the Don Bosco boys from Mandaluyong City, 87-79.

Badong Canlas, Jeric Fortuna, Chris Camus and Jackson Wong each fired 11 points while Emilian Vargas chipped in 10, enabling the likes of Dylan Ababou, Chester Taylor, Kashim Mirza and Francis Allera enough rest for their crucial match with Arellano U today, a knockout duel.

The tournament, sponsored by Smart, PLDT, KFC, Flying V, Fil-Oil and The STAR, is staking P500,000, P200,000 and P150,000 for the first to third placers in scholarship grants. Another P500,000, P200,000 and P150,000 in cash are also up for grabs courtesy of telecommunication boss Manny V. Pangilinan. – Joey Villar