St. Clare out to stretch streak in NCBL

MANILA, Philippines –  Pacesetting Saint Clare College of Caloocan is favored to stretch its winning streak when it battles three lightweight opponents today in the resumption of the National Collegiate Billiards League at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City.

The Saints, showing the way with 15 out of a possible 18 match points, battle Centro Escolar University (6) at 11 a.m. before tackling San Beda (7) and University of Manila (5) later in the day in the tourney backed by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Accel and the Negros Billiards Stable.

Out to keep pace with the Saints is Philippine Maritime Institute, which parts ways with fellow-second running National University in one of the featured matches for the day. The two teams have 14 points each, along with Far Eastern University.

Aside from NU, PMI will also be up against University of Santo Tomas (9) and San Beda College (7).

In the lone juniors’ action, Pasig Catholic College battles Claret School at 2 p.m., with the winner joining early leaders Xavier School, which trounced St. Mary’s 3-0 in the opener, and La Salle-Greenhills, which humbled Ateneo 2-1 last week.

The Bulldogs will also face San Sebastian and FEU. The Tamaraws battle the Tigers, Fatima, and JRU.

Completing JRU’s schedule for the day is struggling Don Bosco-Mandaluyong, which has just two points.

The tournament is also backed by H2O Hotel, Manila Ocean Park, Negros Billiards Stable, Malungai Life Oil, Niknok Pritson Manok, Hermes Sports Bar, Human Plus Probiotics, Star Billiards Center, Brunswick, The Philippine STAR, Bugsy Promotions and Mediacom