Games Today
(Olivarez gym, Parañaque City)
12 noon – Diliman vs CEU
2 p.m. – Olivarez vs UB
Diliman College and Olivarez College seek a championship showdown when they face their semifinal foes today in the PG Flex Linoleum-Universities and Colleges Basketball League at the Olivarez College gym in Parañaque City.
The top-seeded Blue Dragons clash with the fourth-ranked Centro Escolar University Scorpions at 12 noon while No. 2 Olivarez Sea Lions battle No. 3 University of Batangas Brahmans at 2 p.m.
Diliman and Olivarez enjoy twice-to-beat privileges after topping the double-round eliminations. If necessary, the knockout match will be on Nov. 4 at the same venue and will be televised on a delayed basis on Solar Sports.
Though armed with the No. 1 seeding, the defending champion Blue Dragons are raring to bounce back from a stunning 108-85 loss to the Technological Institute of the Philippines at the end of the elims.
The defeat tainted their tally as they finished the elims at 9-1.
Diliman has also beaten CEU twice in the elims, but expect the Scorpions to go full force to keep their title hopes alive.
In their first meeting, the Blue Dragons bludgeoned the six-man Scorpions, 90-62, but experienced some scary moments before prevailing, 66-62, in the second round where CEU played in full force.
Olivarez, which finished the elims at 8-2, searches for a third finals appearance and a third win against UB following earlier victories: An 84-78 decision in the first round and an 80-65 triumph in the second.
UB and CEU finished with similar 7-3 records but the Brahmans took the No. 3 spot due to the winner over the rule, having beaten the also undermanned Scorpions, 112-86, in the first round. (Kristel Satumbaga)
