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Thursday, June 16, 2005
USC loses to WNC
By Frank Calapre
Sun.Star Correspondent
DUMAGUETE City– Ele Olarte fired 28 points to lift West Negros College past University of San Carlos, 81-69, yesterday in the YKL 4th Asian University Basketball Championship: Dr. Carl Menky Ching Cup at the Lamberto Macias Gymnasium here.
Olarte, who scored only five points in the first half, came to the Mustangs’ rescue the rest of the way, connecting on three triples in the final period to frustrate the erstwhile solo leader Warriors, who dropped to second with a 2-1 win-loss slate.
The Bacolod City-based Mustangs regained the solo lead with a 3-1 card and appear headed to the finals with only Silliman as their final assignment.
Only loss
Their only loss was at the hands of Xiamen University, 89-95, Tuesday but gained prominence earlier when they stunned highly-favored Myong Ji University of South Korea, 81-75, on Monday.
Down by eight points at the half, West Negros went to Olarte, who scored nine points in the third quarter to gain the uperhand, 64-57, and they never relinquished the lead until the buzzer.
“They lost their focus after leading in the first half. But we don’t have excuses, we will just try to forge a triple tie,” said USC coach Jay Ramirez.
Its not yet over for the USC Warriors as they take on South Korea’s Myong Ji University today, seeking a big win that may forge a triple tie with the Mustangs and Xiamen University of Fujian, China.
Both Xiamen and Myong Ji, which were still playing at presstime, bear similar 1-1 cards.
Still possible
“It’s not impossible. There is a big chance of another upset win. The Koreans lost to West Negros last Monday, so why can’t we,” said Ramirez.
The top two teams at the end of the round robin elimination will dispute the championship in a knockout match on Saturday. In case of a triple tie, the finalists will be determined by the Olympic quotient system.
Host Silliiman University banked on Waldo Villegas 12 points in the final quarter to beat Cebu City’s Salazar College of Sciences and Institute of Technology, 79-75, the other day.
(June 16, 2005 issue)
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