UM Hawks complete elims sweep

University of Manila repeated its conquest of the vastly-improved St. Clare College of Caloocan, completing a sweet sweep of the NAASCU elimination round at the UM gym yesterday.

Four Hawks put in huge numbers as the Sampaloc-based squad ripped the Saints, 80-63, for a 16th win in the season and 69th in the same number of outings since the league’s inception three years ago.

Ryan Regalado led all scorers with 23 points, Richard Litonjua piled up 18 points and five assists, Gener Bernados tallied 10 points and eight rebounds and Pol Santiago logged 10 rebounds and nine points for Atty. Ernie delos Santos’ squad which once again advanced to the Final Four as the top seed.

St. Clare gained second seeding despite the loss that closed out its elims stint with an 11-5 win-loss card.

Tied at third with similar 9-6 records, Centro Escolar University and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasay are likely to go all out to be the third seed and avoid a Final Four collision with UM.

Ranged against the team of former UM standout Joel Dualan, the Hawks slowly but surely pulled away, taking a 22-15 lead in the first quarter, a 47-33 cushion at halftime and a 60-43 spread after the third period.