MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion Colegio de San Lorenzo and host St. Dominic Savio College pulled off similar easy victories over their respective rivals at the start of the fifth Universities Colleges Schools Athletic Association (UCSAA) basketball championships at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig.
CdSL opened its campaign for an unprecedented fourth straight title with a lopsided 91-55 win over Pasig Catholic College in a rematch of last year’s titular showdown.
Thirteen players scored for the Quezon City-based Blue Griffins, who are seeking their fourth UCSAA title in as many years under multi-awarded coach Boni Garcia.
The Blue Griffins used their height and heft advantage to the hilt, establishing as many as 50-point lead over the Crusaders before a huge opening-day crowd.
The Blue Griffins were never seriously threatened in the game.
“The boys (Blue Griffins) are really determined to win our fourth straight UCSAA title,”said Garcia after the game.
“It’s still too early to tell, but I like our chances this year. We have orepated l8ng and hard for our title defense,”added Garcia.
Equally impressive was SDSC, which proved too strong for De La Salle-Araneta University, 69-46.
SDSC, which bagged the title in the inaugural season in 2011, was also in complete control of the match against DLS-AU in winning the first game of the season.
The North Caloocan City-based SDSC of coach Monel Kallos seized the upperhand early in the game and staved off repeated rallies by DLS-AU.
The fifth member-team -- University of Makati -- drew opening-day bye.
The opposite happened in the junior division.
PCC demolished CdSL, 85-44, and DLS-AU downed SDSC, 87-77.
SCUAA president Nestor de la Cruz of host SDSC declared the fifth season of.the league open.
“We hope to duplicate, if not surpass, the gains of the previous years,” said Dr. Dela Cruz.
Dr. Dela Cruz also introduced the heads of the other member-teams during the two-hour long opening ceremony.
The award-winning SDSC Culture Dance Troupe under Director Raynaldo Jaguio provided the intermission numbers.
Highlight of the event is the presentation of the candidates for the Ms. SCUAA 2015.and Ms. Teen UCSAA 2015.
The scores:
Seniors
First game
SDSC (69) -- Dumas 15, Jawili 11, Marilao 10, Ocupan 7, Pineda 7, Litunia 5, Torrado 5, Rvera 4, Catacutan 2, Vamacho 2, Ordonez 1
DLSAU (46) -- Carino 15, Adolfo 11, Del Rosario 7, Dela Torre 5, Cortez 3, Domingo 2, Batungbakal 2, Batan 1.
Second game
CdSL (91) -- Gabriel 21, Ancheta 12, Borja 8, Astrero 7, Laman 6, Montes 6, Magat 6, Formento 6, De Guzman 5, Nicolas 4, Yambao 4, Meneses 4, Marata 2.
PCC (55) -- Ella 16, Valencia 8, Gaddao 6, Chavenia 6, Pinili 6, J. Pinili 5, Montecio 3, Pablo 2, Marcial 2, Mercado 1.
Juniors
Third game
DLSAU def. SDSC, 87-77.
Fourth game
PCC def. CdSL, 85-44