Cafe France starts strong in Dickies Cup

Games Sunday  (Phil. Buddhacare gym, Quezon City)

10 a.m. – FEU-Multimotors vs UE

11:30 a.m. – Ateneo-SMC vs Adamson

1:15 p.m. – UST vs CEU-Café France

MANILA, Philippines - Centro Escolar University-Café France overpowered Adamson, 96-72, to kick off its title retention drive in the Smart-PCABL fourth Dickies Cup at the Philippine Buddhacare gym in Quezon City last Sunday.

The Lady Scorpions exploded for 35 points right in the opening quarter as Janine Pontejos and Marjorie Mercado dominated with their quickness while using their height advantage to the hilt to score almost at will.

Five players scored in double figures for CEU with Pontejos leading the team with 19 points despite playing only for 15 minutes.

Mercado tallied 18 markers on 7-of-13 shooting from the field while Cristine Caranto and Stefanie Ventura chipped in 14 points apiece.

The Lady Scorpions also pounced on the erratic Lady Falcons, who struggled for just 10 points after the first 10 minutes and turned the ball over 34 times which CEU translated into 28 points.

Other opening day winners in the event sponsored by CW Home Depot, Powerhouse, K-Tech Sports, Inc., Dickies Underwear and Jumbo Plastic Linoleum were University of the East and Far Eastern University-Multimotors.

The Lady Warriors recorded the first upset of the tournament by downing the University of Santo Tomas Tigresses, 74-65, while the Lady Tamaraws crushed the Ateneo-San Miguel Corp. side, 55-46.

Four players scored in double figures for UE with Cherry Ano-os topscoring with 20 points while the Lady Tamaraws was led by Loraine Ventura’s 15 points.