By Jerome Lagunzad
Games Tomorrow
(Olivarez College gym)
12 noon — Lyceum-Batangas vs TIP
2 p.m. — CdSL vs Bulacan State U
Colegio de San Lorenzo may be lacking in manpower, but not in its desire to win.
Backups James Alvarado and Charles Callano stole the thunder down the stretch yesterday as the Griffins repeated over the Diliman College Blue Dragons, 62-57, to gain a share of the lead in the Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) Season 2 at the Olivarez College gym in Sucat, Parañaque City.
Alvarado and Callano combined for 25 points, nine of them coming in the final canto where they helped Colegio de San Lorenzo stay in control and foil Diliman College’s late fightback.
Their big production could not have come at a more opportune time for the Griffins, who found a way to overcome the absence of pro-bound center Jon Gabriel and a game-long offensive struggles by hobbling Benin forward Soulemane Chabi Yo due to a sprained ankle.
Gelo Sablan, also coming off the bench, dished out an all-around performance of seven points, nine rebounds and five assists, enabling CdSL to get back on track and join idle defending champion Centro Escolar University on top of the field with similar 7-1 marks.
Senegalese big man Adama Diakhite had another solid showing of 19 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and four blocks while Jerico Mondala added 14 markers but Diliman College still came up short that put an end to their five-game winning streak.
In the other match, host Olivarez College repeated over Technological Institute of the Philippines 80-70 for its fourth consecutive victory.
Backups Jose Navarro and Chris Lalata combined for 28 markers while Dwight Saguiguit has 12 points, all coming from beyond the arc, as the Sea Lions did enough to foil the Engineers and improve their mark to 6-3, tightening their grip on the fourth spot.
Veteran Jorey Napoles waxed hot with 31 points on a highly efficient 11-of-13 shooting from the field but could not gained enough support, hastening TIP’s downfall to a 3-6 mark.
First Game
CDSL 62 — Alvarado 14, Chabi Yo 12, Callano 11, Rojas 7, Sablan 7, Formento 5 Ancheta 2, Borja 2, Vargas 2, Laman 0.
DILIMAN COLLEGE 57 — Diakhite 19, Mondala 14, Brutas 6, Gerero 6, Salazar 4, Darang 2, Handag 2, Ligon 2, Mbiya 2, Bauzon 0, Chavenia 0, Corpuz 0, Sombero 0.
Quarters: 11-14, 31-25, 48-39, 62-57.
Second Game
OLIVAREZ COLLEGE 80 Navarro 16, Lalata 12, Saguiguit 12, Rabe 8, Bermudes 8, Solis 7, Uduba 7, Castro 5, Geronimo 3, Almajeda 2, Begaso 0, Prado 0, Elie 0, Sunga 0.
TIP 70 — Napoles 31, Latu 11, Daguro 9, Quiambao 9, Mallari 3, Lara 3, Palisoc 2, Soriano 2, Ramos 0.
Quarters: 22-19, 35-30, 61-47, 80-70.
