Olivarez College and San Sebastian College-Recoletos launched their title bids with almost the same fashion, beating their respective rivals convincingly in the opening of the PG Flex Linoleum-UCBL Invitational Tournament Tuesday at the SGS Gym in Quezon City.
Drawing significant numbers from Iverson Aquiatan and Lance de Leon, the Olivarez Sea Lions romped to a 76-55 win over the Philippine Women’s University dribblers in the preseason tournament that lured seven of Metro Manila’s top teams.
The SSC-R Stags were equally impressive, getting a pair of 15-point outputs from Reggs Gabat and Alex Desoyo to down St. Clare College-Caloocan Saints, 72-52.
Both Aquiatan and de Leon finished with similar12 points – most of them in the second frame where they struck and steadily pulled away. They also combined for 16 boards that saw the Sea Lions outrebound the Taft-based squad, 52-36.
So tight was Olivarez’s defense that no PWU player managed to score in double-digit numbers after top guns John Espiritu and Jireh Alcala were limited to 9 points each.
PWU also turned the ball 25 times that all but hastened its downfall.
Ahron Estacio led the many-time NAASCU champions Saints with 11 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds.
The Stags will have their hands full as they battle the UAAP champions Ateneo Blue Eagles on Friday.
