St. Francis grabs lead in UCLAA

St. Francis of Assisi College turned anew to Rex Leynes and Raymond Ilagan as it crushed Colegio de Sta. Monica, 73-54, yesterday for its second straight win in the Universities and Colleges of Luzon Athletic Association (UCLAA) at the San Andres gym in Manila.

Leynes and Ilagan fired 11 points each in the second half where the host Doves led by as many as 22 points, 39-17, midway in the third period. The duo finished with 20 and 17 points, respectively.

“So far, so good,” said SFAC mentor Gabby Velasco. “Save for some parts of the third period where we relaxed, I laud the boys for executing our plays almost to perfection.”

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa and Las Piñas College bounced back from opening-day losses to tie CSM in third spot at 1-1.

PLMun dumped University of the Philippines-Los Baños, 98-46, with a big lift from Kevin Racal who fired 25 and Jun Crespo (15).

LPC routed National College of Business and Arts, 75-49. Marlon Pening paced the LPC Blue Lions with 23 markers.

UPLB and NCBA are in the cellar at 0-2.

The UCLAA is supported by Mang Inasal, Air21, Besuto prawn crackers, Villa de Oro Boracay, Magarbo, Magnolia, Basketbolista Magazine and www.gameface.ph.

La Salle alumni clinch poker title

La Salle alumni won the over-all team and individual championship in the first Inter-Alumni No Limit Texas Hold ‘em Poker Tournament for a Cause recently at the Manila Pavilion.

For winning the overall team championship, La Salle Green won a P25,0000 Pagcor donation for the One La Salle Scholarship Fund. The UP Maroon placed second, while Ateneo Blue finished third.

The beneficiary of UP received P15,000, while Ateneo’s beneficiary got P10,000 in the event which drew over 70 players with La Salle alumni and friends dominating the field in all seven tables.

After four hours of poker savvy, Green dominated the final table comprising six La Sallians, two La Sallian friends, one from UP and one Atenean, who was the chip leader entering the final table.

Of the 10 finalists, the field was narrowed to the Final Four. They were Tonypet Albano (LS) and Ana Cu-Unjieng (friend of LS) becoming the co-chip leader followed by Rafael Narciso (Ateneo) and Derick Festejo (UP).

Festejo fell to Cu-Unjieng while chip Albano busted out Narciso. Albano defeated Cu-Unjieng with pocket aces over her Kings and Queens in the final “all in” encounter.

Other top 10 finalists are Francis Fuentes (LS), Ace Custodio (friend of LS), Dave Asencio (friend of LS), Benson Bocboc (LS), Henry Atayde (LS) and Stevie Liao (LS).

Non-cashable chips worth P300,000 and P100,000 were distributed to the top 10 winners, while P200,000 non-cashable chips were given to the pre-registered participants including those who had re-buys and add-ons.

The tournament was sponsored by DLSU College Batch ’82, U.P. Alumni, PAGCOR Pavilion, Chivas Regal, National Sports Grill, Smart, Ferrari, Alta Vista Boracay, Krispy Kreme, Marks and Spencers, NEC, Rudy Project, Rapide, Clic Goggles, OHM Sports Watches, Gang Green, and Animo Magazine.

Rich darts tourney slated in GenSan

The organizing National Darts Federation of the Philippines (NDFP) expects a big field of local darters from Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in the P2M Manny Pacquiao International Darts Classic slated Dec. 12-15 at the Lagao Gym in General Santos.

Local darters from as far as Baguio and Basilan, and other key cities in the Visayas and Mindanao regions have already registered for the country’s biggest darts tournament funded by world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, himself a darter and sponsor of previous big darts tournaments in Digos and GenSan.

“We expect more than 500 darters to join – not only competitive darters but also recreational ones who want to take part in this historic tournament. Marikina, for instance, is sending a contingent of 16 darters and not all of them are vying for the cash prizes even if the men’s open champion gets to receive a record P320,000 cash prize,” said NDFP’s Tito Soncuya, adding that top Filipino darters will also be in the field.

OFW darters based in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have already confirmed their participation together with four United Arab Emirates players.

“Malaysia and Singapore have also expressed intentions to send a 20-man contingent,” said Soncuya, who is being supported by the Mindanao Archipelago Dart Federation, the Association of General Santos Darters and GenSan Mayor Pedro Acharon.

Inquiries: Marvin Olina at 02-3723541 or 02-4169242, and Alain Comendador at 0928-2522287.

Ateneo, La Salle top SBP, Passerelle tiffs

Ateneo de Manila University and La Salle Greenhills (LSGH) underscored the National Capital Region’s dominance by bagging the Small Basketeers Philippines (SBP) and Passerelle division championships, respectively, in the Milo-sponsored BEST Center SBP/Passerelle basketball tournament over the weekend at the University of San Agustin Gym in Iloilo City.

Ateneo leaned on an end-game rally to put Ateneo de Davao away, 52-45, for its second straight national SBP championship.

In the Passerelle division, LSGH trashed Sacred Heart School Jesuit (SHSJ), 105-72.

The Davaoeños had the upper hand through most of the close game, enjoying a 10-point lead early in the match. The Eaglets, however, slowly munched at the deficit, then took a 44-40 lead with 4:20 left. Ateneo was on top, 46-45, with 2:05 left, and the NCR champions unleashed a 6-0 run to end the game.

Jacob Magpoc led ADMU with eight points. The Davaoeños were led by Klyde Jan Batilo’s 13.