By Ricky Manliguis
Two of the
four tickets to the semifinals have been snagged by La Consolacion College and
ICCT Colleges at the end of Saturday festivities of the Inter-Scholastic
Athletic Association (ISAA) Season 14 basketball tournament at the Trinity
University of Asia gym.
The
defending champions Blue Royals completed the six-game sweep of the eliminations,
cooling off the AirLink Blazing Phoenix, 75-61, and snatching the first
twice-to-beat incentive in the playoffs.
Finishing
the first half only up by three, 36-33, the Mendiola-based dribblers went to
work in the second half, outscoring AirLink 23-15 in the third quarter for a
59-48 cushion and held on from there.
It was a
painful setback for ALIAC, which ended its campaign at 2-4, as it will have to
await the fate of the other teams below them for a chance at the #4 spot.
The Blue Dragons then made it five wins in a row, trouncing the upset-conscious Treston
Golden Lions, 103-85, to likewise book the other twice-to-beat advantage.
The boys
from Cainta raced to an early 58-44 advantage at the half all while keeping the
Taguig-based Lions at bay for most of the final half enough to end their preliminary
assignments at 5-1.
This also set
up a potential semifinal duel against the idle WCC Aeronautical and Technical College Blue Skyhawks
(3-2), which will automatically occupy the third spot regardless of the result
of its final elimination game on Sunday.
Treston
fell to a 2-3 record, yet still has a shot at a semifinal slot should it win
against the also-ran University of Asia and the Pacific (0-5) on Sunday.
Meanwhile,
the La Consolacion Baby Blue Royals completed the sweep of the junior’s
eliminations with a 67-49 triumph opposite the Treston Golden Cubs.
The final
day of the elimination rounds for the seniors division will be Sunday also at the
Trinity University gym. Philippine Women’s University (1-4) hopes to sneak into
the semis as it faces WCC, following the match-up between Treston and UA&P.
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