Sea Lions, Patriots blast rivals

DASMARIÑAS, Philippines  – The Olivarez College Sea Lions and the La Salle-Dasmariñas Patriots continued their winning ways yesterday in the 11th Universities and Colleges Athletic Association (UCAA) men’s basketball tournament.

John Flores struck with a game-high 23 points to lead the Sea Lions to a 91-57 romp over the Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite Vanguard at the Ugnayang La Salle gymnasium inside the DLSU-Dasmariñas campus here.

Using their home-court advantage to the hilt, the Patriots got double-digit outputs from three veterans as they blasted the Central Colleges of the Philippines Bobcats, 92-76.

The victories enabled the Sea Lions to remain in the solo lead with their fourth straight win, while the Patriots stayed behind at second with their 3-1 record.

The Sea Lions were nursing a 36-35 at halftime when they came up with an explosive run behind Flores in the last period.

Flores unloaded two of his three triples, while Franklin Mancio, who made nine of his 18-point tally in the third, combined for  a decisive 11-0 attack in the latter part of the second half.

Flores’ heroics, along with the fourth-quarter show of Liberian cager John Corneh allowed the Sea Lions to establish a 75-45 spread in the remaining 4:08.

Meanwhile, Jeoffrey Acain led the Patriots with 24 points, while his teammates Kevin Torres and Clifford Castro had 16 points apiece.

The Bobcats gave the Patriots quite a scare when they threatened, 54-58, near the end of the third.

But Acain asserted himself under the boards and scored thrice during a 12-3 counterattack, which put the Patriots ahead for good going into the fourth period, 70-57.