Games Tomorrow
(Olivarez College gym)
12 noon – UB vs Diliman College
2 p.m. – CEU vs CDSL
Drawing inspired games from Leonard de Leon and Dominick Fajardo, Bulacan State University made heads turn yesterday by stunning Olivarez College, 96-91, at the start of the Universities and Colleges Basketball League at the Olivarez Coliseum in Sucat, Parañaque.
De Leon completed a double-double of 29 points and 10 boards while Fajardo added 24 points in leading BSU to a rousing start in the seven-team tournament that is hoping to establish itself as new alternative for hundreds of student-athletes.
The Gold Gears started slow as they trailed the host squad, 47-41, at the end of the first half before suddenly exploding in the third quarter where they outscored the Sea Lions, 30-16, that gave them a 71-64 lead going into the final quarter.
BSU padded their lead to 88-76 in the last four minutes that proved to be too hard for the Sea Lions to overcome.
BSU coach Antonio Tayao credited their win to their impressive outside shooting.
“It’s a good game and it was close all throughout,” said Tayao. “It was our good shooting in the second half that helped us win the game.”
A huge three by Fajardo early in the third proved to be the push the Gold Gears needed to start a rally before De Leon took charge of BSU’s rally with his outside sniping.
The Sea Lions made one last attempt to turn the game around but the closest they could come was cut the Gold Gears’ lead to 90-86. Pruvil Bermudez paced the Sea Lions with 26 points.
The televised tournament resumes tomorrow with top favorite Centro Escolar University going up against Colegio De San Lorenzo.
Scores:
BSU 96 – De Leon 29, Fajardo 24, Reyes 19, Jauco 8, Dela Cruz 8, Necio 4, Mendoza 2, Bagay 2.
OLIVAREZ 91 – Bermudez 26, Saguiguit 15, Singh 14, Geronimo 10, Belaso 10, Solis 6, Rabe 4, Sunga 2, Almejada 2, Francis 2, Navarro 9, Diaz 0.
Quarters: 20-24, 41-48, 71-64, 96-91
