PMMS rips LCC, stays unscathed

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Merchant Marine School leaned on another hot start to defeat La Consolacion College, 72-46, Wednesday to clinch an outright semifinals berth in the fourth Interscholastic Athletic Association basketball tournament at the TIP gym in Manila.

Dhon Reverente scored 22 points while Sany Trinidad scored 16 markers for the Mariners, who notched their fifth straight win after frustrating the Blue Royals in the opening period.

PMMS can complete a six-game sweep of the classification round with a victory over FEATI University on Sept. 13 at the Manila Tytana Colleges gym in Pasay.

LCCM’s loss allowed defending champion Technological Institute of the Philippines to forge a tie for second place after Sean Paulo and Jemuel Namocatcat led the Engineers to a 76-64 win over Philippine Women’s University.

Paulo and Namocatcat scored 14 and 11 points, respectively, as TIP tied LCCM at 4-1. Both teams will also meet on Sept. 13 to determine the second outright semis berth.

The loser will drop to third where it will have to survive a grueling stepladder format to claim one of the two remaining semis berths.

PMMS and the winner of the TIP-LCCM duel will each have a twice-to-beat advantage in the semis.

In the other game, FEATI downed St Dominic College of Asia, 93-85, to secure its second straight win. The Seahawks improved to 3-2 for fourth spot.

The cagefest is backed by Molten and Mikasa of Sonia Trading, Globe and Abot Kaya Pinoy,