Wildcats, Griffins open UCLAA with big wins

MANILA, Philippines -- The National College of Business and Arts Wildcats and the Colegio de San Lorenzo Griffins pulled off big wins Sunday at the start of the 8th Universities and Colleges of  Luzon Athletic Association (UCLAA) basketball tournament   at the Marikina Sports Complex.

CJ Catura hit 13 points for the Wildcats as they subdued the Lyceum-Alabang Pirates, 72-60.

Yves Nicolas tallied a game-high 18 points for the Griffins as they stopped the Asian  Institute of Maritime Studies (AIMS) cagers, 95-73.

This put them in the early lead of this cagefest, which will have eight of nine participating schools vying for top honors .

The Wildcats, coached by Edgardo Alejo, woke up from a sluggish game in the first quarter, and with the match tied at 13-all.

With their fullcourt press keeping the Pirates at bay in the second period, needed to triples from Eljon Limpin and Daniel Lasco to break the game wide open, and move away, 28-21, at halftime.

“We started slow. But our when our pressing game kicked in in the second period, we were able to move ahead.

Charities from Francis Manzano and a drive from Limpin in the last 1:28  of the third allowed the Wildcats to grab a 48-35 spread.

The Griffins, behind Nicolas and Manu Magat, took control after taking a 20-13 edge in the first period,  with two triples from Rap de Guzman sending them to a 45-25 halftime spread.

“We had a strong start. And we kept it up till the end,” said Griffins coach Bonnie Garcia.