Philippine College of Criminology, St. Francis start UCLAA title duel

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine College of Criminology opens its quest for a double championship at the start of the best-of-three finals of the first Universities and Colleges of Luzon Athletic Association today at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The PCCr junior squad opens hostilities at 12 noon against St. Jude College while the senior team battles host St. Francis of Assisi College at 1:30 p.m.

The senior PCCr five won all their nine elimination games and ousted No. 4 Las Piñas College in the Final Four, 59-58. But the SFAC Doves, who wound up at 7-2, had to go through a playoff against the Cobras of De Ocampo Memorial College before clinching the second finals seat.

PCCr’s Arjay Dionero, Julius Manalo, Edward Pedroso, Jeramil Ventura and Mark Fraginal will pit skills against St. Francis’ stalwarts Raymond Ilagan, Lex Leynes, James Castanerez, Jan Dulawan and Erwilson Santos.

Mang Inasal, Air21, Besuto prawn crackers, Villa De Oro Boracay, Magarbo, Magnolia, Basketbolista Magazine and www.gameface.ph are supporting the inaugural UCLAA season. 

The junior Enforcers likewise swept all their five elimination matches and beat fourth-ranked National College of Business and Arts in the semifinals, 78-52.

Albert Francisco, Edrien Solarez and Bugoy Mendano will spearhead the PCCr juniors, who inflicted the St. Jude Crusaders’ lone loss in the elimination round last Dec. 5, 92-62.

St. Jude beat St. Francis in the semifinals, 84-74.