Cougars, Engineers repulse foes

DASMARIñAS, Cavite, Philippines – The Colegio de Sta. Monica Cougars and the Technological Institute of the Philippines Engineers beat separate rivals recently to fortify their chances of reaching the semifinals in the ninth Universities and Colleges Athletic Association (UCAA) men’s basketball tournament.

The Cougars turned to veterans Mark Montilla and Jayvee Ferreria in the last quarter as they stopped the La Salle-Dasmariñas Patriots, 65-56, and claimed their fourth triumph in five games at the Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite gymnasium. Last Monday, the Cougars pulled off a 84-59 demolition of the Jaguars, with Montilla firing a game-high 24 points.

Ferreria and Montilla showed the way for the Cougars with 23 and 18 points, respectively. Ferreria unloaded six points at the start of the last period as the Cougars overtook the DLSU-D Patriots, 48-46, with 6:23 left.

Montilla’s two triples with 2:33 remaining enabled the Cougars to nurse a seven-point spread, 59-52, in the ensuing play.

“We started slow but we turned it around in the second half. I told the boys to play at our level, not theirs. They ran the Patriots from both ends of the court,” said Cougars coach Yong Garcia.

The Engineers took charge early and smothered the Jaguars, 81-67, to improve their record to 3-2 at the end of the first round of this cagefest supported by Mikasa and Molten Balls.

The Engineers, led by Jeff Morillo and Carlito Quiambao with 13 points apiece, picked up their third win in five matches, and firmed up their bid for the semifinals.

TIP limited the Jaguars to just eight points in the first 10 minutes, while Morillo made eight and Greg Aguilar scored seven of nine points in the early goings to help the Engineers erect a 20-12 first quarter edge.