By Jerome Lagunzad
Games Tomorrow
(Olivarez Coliseum)
12 noon – Olivarez vs Diliman
(Battle for 3rd)
2 p.m. – CEU vs CdSL
(Game 1, best-of-three finals)
When Colegio de San Lorenzo is at its full strength, the Griffins are a handful for their rivals.
That’s what CdSL proved again yesterday against the Olivarez College Sea Lions in their knockout duel, 78-61, to clinch the remaining finals berth in the Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) Season 2 at the Sea Lions gym in Sucat, Parañaque City.
Pro league hopeful Jon Gabriel made a triumphant return as he helped ease the load off do-it-all Benin big man Soulemane Chabi Yo, veterans Charles Callano and Gelo Sablan as the No. 2 Griffins jumped the gun on the No.3 Sea Lions early on and never let up.
The solid victory, far from its showing in a 74-69 loss in the series opener last Monday, also primed up CdSL in what promises to be an explosive best-of-three titular showdown with reigning titlist Centro Escolar University starting tomorrow at the same venue.
The 6-foot-6 Chabi Yo was back at his dominant form with 22 points and 14 rebounds while Callano continued his stellar play with 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists but it was the surprising return of Gabriel that caught Olivarez College by big surprise and served as the key in CdSL’s all-important victory.
“His mere presence alone, despite not having the ball at all times on the offensive end, provides us a lot,” admitted Griffins coach Boni Garcia of Gabriel who struggled from the field on 3-of-14 shooting but still finished with 13 points, four rebounds and two blocks in 22 minutes of play off the bench.
“He’s a vital part of our campaign this season and I’m just happy that we were able to activate him at the most opportune time,” added Garcia of his prized Tarlac native big man who was selected 11th overall by TNT KaTropa in last month’s PBA Rookie Draft.
Gunner Paulo Castro picked up from where he left off with a team-high 19 points while Richmon Sunga added 15 points but the other Sea Lions, notably vital cogs Vin Begaso and Dwight Saguiguit, groped for form against the Griffins’ defensive pressure.
Ater Jayboy Solis made a triple that gave Olivarez an early 5-2 lead, CdSL tightened up its defensive screws, with Chabi Yo and Gabriel patrolling the lane, and took control on the way to a 36-29 cushion at the break.
Sablan then took up the offensive cudgels for the Griffins in the third period where he fired away 11 of his 16 points as the Sea Lions continued to struggle, throwing brick after brick and turning the ball over several times.
The scores:
CdSL 78 – Chabi Yo 22, Callano 21, Sablan 16, Gabriel 13, Alvarado 4, Ancheta 2, Borja 0, Formento 0, Laman 0, Rojas 0.
Olivarez 61 – Castro 19, Sunga 15, Bermudes 9, Elie 6, Saguiguit 6, Solis 6, Almajeda 0, Begaso 0, Geronimo 0, Lalata 0, Navarro 0, Rabe 0, Uduba 0.
Quarters: 21-16, 36-29, 52-40, 78-61.
