Mariners, Sea Lions prevail in NCRAA tiff

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Merchant Marine School Mariners and the Olivarez College Sea Lions relied on their speed and size to put away their rivals yesterday in the 17th National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) men’s basketball tournament.

Gerry Lumungsod unloaded 14 points to lead the Mariners to an 88-53 swamping of the Emilio Aguinaldo College-Dasmariñas Presidents for their fourth win in five games at the Rizal Technological University gymnasium.

In the other game, Philip de la Cruz banged in 28 points for the Sea Lions, who whipped the College de Sta. Monica Cougars, 78-63, and joined the Mariners in joint second place of this cagefest supported by Mikasa and Molten Balls.

The Mariners and Sea Lions stayed behind unbeaten Technological Institute of the Philippines (4-0).

The Mariners started strong with their running game and held the Presidents to just 10 points in the first 10 minutes to post a 29-10 spread.

Lumungsod, who fired three of his four triples in the first quarter, led a 10-2 run with Brylle Orog to decide the outcome of the contest very early.

“Nakuha namin sa running game. Kulang sila sa tao,” said Mariners coach Aldrin Morante.

Meanwhile, De la Cruz unleashed eight points in an early 10-4 blast which enabled the Sea Lions to take charge with a 16-8 lead.

They picked up the pace in the next period, with Anton Somera, Corneh and Marc Angot scoring baskets, which gave the Sea Lions a 37-22 advantage over the Cougars late in the second canto.

Last Tuesday, the Beaujing Acot-coached Rizal Techonological University Blue Thunder (2-1) prevailed over the Philippine School of Business Administration Jaguars, 96-67, with Marc Trinidad hitting 15 points and Philip Panimogan contributing 12.

The Cougars pulled off a 68-43, demolition of the EAC-Dasmarinas Presidents, getting 18 points from John Orbeta.