CKSC, UPIS stay in semifinals hunt

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion Chiang Kai Shek College and University of the Philippines-Integrated School downed their respective rivals to keep their respective semifinal bids alive in the second PCABL Jumbo Plastic Linoleum Cup at the Philippine Buddhacare Academy gym in Quezon City over the weekend.

The Blue Dragons came back strong from their stinging 67-86 defeat to league-leading National University side last week and crushed the Letran-B Squires, 98-45, to grab solo fourth in the nine-team tournament with a 3-2 card.

The Junior Maroons, on the other hand, drew 24 points from Allane Barles to trounce the University of the East Juniors, 105-88, and notch their second win against three losses.

Barles also had eight boards and four assists to earn another Jumbo Plastic Player of the Game award in the tournament also sponsored by Smart Telecom, Advance Solutions Inc., Hapee Toothpaste, Fed Seal, Powerhouse, CW Home Depot and Powerbest Marketing.

In the other game, early semifinalist NU bolstered its bid for a twice-to-beat advantage in the semis with an 85-56 drubbing of Hope Christian High School.

It was NU’s sixth straight win with the team needing only to win one of its last two remaining matches to claim the No. 1 seeding in the semis.

Martin Galinato, who emerged as the Player of the Game, led four CKSC players in double figures with 16 points on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting from the two-point area.