Sea Lions rip Jaguars, near semis

MANILA, Philippines - Olivarez College, drawing big games from seldom-used Franklin Mancio, trounced Philippine School of Business Administration, 99-83, to boost their semis bid in the ninth Universities and Colleges Athletic Association (UCAA) men’s basketball tournament at the Olivarez gym in Sucat yesterday.

Mancio fired a game-high 15 points, including a triple in a decisive Olivarez run in the third quarter, as he helped power the Sea Lions to their eighth victory against a loss.

The Jaguars took their sixth loss against three wins as they dropped to joint fourth with La Salle-Dasmariñas in the tournament backed by Mikasa and Molten Balls.

In the other game, Marlito Escobal hit 29 points as the La Salle-Dasma Patriots blasted the Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite Vanguards, 81-65.

Erwin Encela and Philip de la Cruz also buried a pair of triples, fueling a 17-6 run that gave the Sea Lions a 50-31 bulge from a 33-25 halftime advantage.

The Sea Lions and the Colegio Sta. Monica Cougars, meanwhile, will try to formalize their stint in the semis slot as they take on separate rivals tomorrow at the Ugnayang La Salle gymnasium in Dasmariñas.

Olivarez College battles EAC-Cavite at 1 p.m. while Colegio de Sta. Monica squares off PSBA at 11:30 a.m.