Hawks spotless in MM elims

University of Manila completed an amazing sweep of its group in the elimination round of the 58th National Students Metro Manila championship with a 106-81 walloping of Rizal Technological University yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Louie Aquino, Ryan Regalado, Jovit Gomez and Ronnie Matias combined for nearly three-fourth of the team’s output as they figured in a virtual shootout among themselves, leading the Hawks to a fifth straight win.

The three-time NAASCU champions scored a sweep in Group D as they earlier romped past National University, Jose Rizal College, Polytechnic University of the Philippines and Philippine College of Criminology.

Gomez, Matias and Regalado also had sterling performances in UM’s 93-82 whipping of PCCr last Friday.

PUP bested NU, 72-64, in the other Group D contest. University of Santo Tomas tripped Philippine Maritime Institute, 67-62, in a women’s game.

The Hawks actually got off to a slow start but went berserk as soon as they gained their bearing starting in the second quarter.

They zoomed to a 21-point lead, 56-35, at the half.

Aquino fired 25 points to pace the Hawks who also drew double-digit outputs from Regalado with 21 and Gomez and Matias with 16 apiece.

Samuel Ignacio scored 16 points, Dondon Murao and Jomer Laborte added 15 points each while Kim Valenzuela chipped in 13 for the losing squad.

Versus PCCr, Gomez rifled in 26, Matias 25 and Regalado 23.