Sea Lions, Cougars remain on top

MANILA, Philippines - Marlon Vizcarra and Erwin Encela took charge at endgame as Olivarez College hacked out an 82-80 victory over La Salle-Dasmariñas in the ninth Universities and Colleges Athletic Association (UCAA) men’s basketball tournament at the Technological Institute of the Philippines gym in Quiapo yesterday.

The victory kept Sea Lions tied with the Colegio de Sta. Monica Cougars in the lead with the latter beating the Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite Vanguards, 73-56, in the other encounter.

John Orbeta and Mark Montilla showed the way for the Cougars with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

The Sea Lions and the Cougars kept their share of the lead with 7-1 cards in the cagefest supported by Mikasa and Molten Balls.

John Corneh fired 12 points for the Sea Lions, while Vizcarra tallied 10 points.

Romy Alde scored on a drive to shatter a 75-all count with 1:22 left in the contest. But Encela completed a three-point play and Vizcarra made two charities, giving the lead back to the Sea Lions at 80-77, 12 seconds remaining in the game.

But Alde hit a triple with eight seconds to go as the Patriots tied the contest for the last time. Encela, however, canned in two pressure packed charities off Alde for the marginal basket.