St. Claire, Diliman book seats in PCCL qualifiers

Games Thursday

(TIP Gym, Manila)

10 a.m. – PCCR vs PMMS

12 p.m. – Diliman College vs St. Claire

MANILA, Philippines – St. Claire and Diliman Colleges routed their respective foes Wednesday to barge into the Luzon-Manila qualifiers of the 2014 Philippine Collegiate Champions League at the Technological Institute of the Phl gym in Manila.

The Saints, the reigning National Capital Region Athletic Association champions, walloped the Phl Merchant Marine School Mariners, 71-59, while the Blue Dragons demolished the Phl College of Criminology Phanters, 91-60, to survive the grueling Metro Manila stage.

The two will thus advance to the Luzon-Manila leg in Batangas alongside National Athletic Association of State Colleges and Universities titlist Centro Escolar U, La Salle, Perpetual Help and Jose Rizal and the qualifiers of the South Luzon-Bicol and North-Central Luzon legs.

Ateneo, which initially agreed to play and was supposed to play in that group, begged off at the last minute.

St. Claire coach Jinno Manansala said he's just happy to survive another day.

"We're happy we passed the first test. Hopefully, we'll survive the next," said Manansala, who played college ball for the Santo Tomas Tigers in the UAAP.

Bong Managuelod led St. Claire with 15 points, including 11 in the first quarter when they set the tone for rout.

Diliman, which was spearheaded by Ivan Barranco's 19 points, was even more unforgiving, as it unleashed a 22-0 blitz at the start of the game and never looked back.

There were some anxious moments though after PCCR's Derrick Montes and Rustom Borja were both tossed out for their unsportsmanlike plays.

Montes was ejected for hurling the ball to game officials while Borja followed suit after a disqualifying foul on Diliman's Ronnel Panugadia.

The scores

First Game

ST. CLAIRE 71 – Managuelod 15, Gil 12, Jamito 12, Ibarra 10. Dulalia 8, Redoh 6, Ambulunto 4. Ibay 4. Acebron 0, Lunor 0, Mendoza 0.

PMMS 59 – Yagonia 20, Trinidad 10, Gonato 8, Pasia 5, Quilatan 4, Villamayor 4, Manlutac 3. Chan 2, Antonares 2, Montojo 1, Matillano 0

Quarterscores: 26-13; 42-27; 55-32; 71-59

Second Game

DILIMAN COLLEGE 91 – Enriquez 20, Barranco 19, Diego 13, Akpa 10, Quattara 8, Aguilon 7, Panugadia 4, Antallan 3, Tay 3, Mamba 2, Lotoc 2, Oleya 1

PCCR 60 – Alano 16,  Tubena 13, Nicolas 9, Borja 8, Mateo 5, Alvarado 4, Salazar 4, Orquina 3, Fernandez 2, Montes 0

Quarterscores: 24-8; 37-23; 72-48; 91-60