PCL: Team A victorious in Battle of RTU, CEU defeats PUP

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Collegiate League enters its final regular season stretch with two games at the Rizal Technological University Gymnasium last Friday, July 15, 2016. The league will host two more games on Friday, July 22, to wrap up its inaugural regular season. 

Game 1: RTU-A (3-2) vs RTU-B (0-4)

For the first time this season, all the Lady Thunders were pitted against one another in front of their home crowd, with Team A securing the 61-56 win against their sister team. 

Although Team A only won by 5 points, they dominated practically the whole game, holding Team B to just 38 points after 3 quarters. 

For a team known for relentlessly jacking up 3-pointers, Team B employed smarter shot selection entering the fourth and coupled it with steady defensive stops. After trailing by double-digits for the whole game, they were able to make it a two-possession game before Team A held on for the victory.

All 11 players who suited up for Team A scored, led by Rogelyn Inoferio with 11 points. Bianca Castellano of Team B held her own against her schoolmates, scoring 14 along with 4 rebounds, two assists and two steals. 

All 11 Team A players also recorded at least one assist, totaling up to 25. Nine Team A players also had at least one steal – the only stat where Team A had a considerable advantage from Team B, with 21 thefts compared to Team B’s 10. 

Game 2: CEU (4-1) vs PUP (1-4)

Centro Escolar University proved why they deserved their semifinal spot, blowing out the Polytechnic University of the Philippines by 21, 74-53. 

Coming off a thrilling 96-93 overtime victory against RTU-B, PUP held their own against the second-seeded Lady Scorpions, ending the first quarter at 19-all. Although they kept it close for most of the second, CEU created ample separation at halftime, 38-30.

The Lady Scorpions rode their newfound momentum heading into the second half, as they utilized their size advantage to pummel PUP at the paint, where they have been dominating all season long. They held PUP to just 23 second half points while they scored 36. PUP made a late 18-point push in the fourth which proved to be futile, as the Lady Scorpions were just too far ahead. 

Mercy Lawan of CEU showed no mercy against her opponents, tallying 15 points, 5 rebounds and two assists, steals and blocks apiece. PUP’s Liezel Rodriguez chipped in a game-high 20 markers along with five boards, two helpers and four thefts. 

PCL had no games last Sunday, July 17, to make way for an RTU school event. It will return on Friday, July 22, with a double-header: the winless RTU-B faces the undefeated De La Salle University and guest team Blackwater Perlas Pilipinas returns to face the fourth-seeded University of the Philippines.

PCL STANDINGS* (as of July 15, 2016)

1 – DLSU                     4 – 0

2 – CEU                       4 – 1

3 – RTU-A                    3 – 2

4 – UP                          2 – 3

5 – PUP                       1 – 4

6 – RTU-B                    0 – 4 

*seedings are final regardless of the results of DLSU vs RTU-B on July 22 

– Rappler.com