UA&P beats LCCM, moves up to Senior A in WNCAA

University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) banked on a second quarter blitz to outlast La Consolacion College Manila, 56-53, and bag the Senior B basketball title in the 40th WNCAA tournament at the St. Scholastica's College gym over the weekend. The UA&P Dragons actually trailed by as many as 10 points at the end of the first quarter, 12-22, but outscored the LCCM Blue Royals, 16-5, in the next period then protected their lead up to the last canto to secure the crown. Leading UA&P was Syl Kristine Alcantara, who sizzled with a game-high 16 points to give the team from Pasig City its second title this season. The Dragons also ruled the Senior B volleyball crown a week ago at the expense of Centro Escolar University. With those victories, UA&P earned berths to the Senior A competitions of the WNCAA next year. Adding double-figure productions for the Dragons were Madeline Gapit (15 points), Claire Capisonda (14 markers) and eventual most valuable player Ma. Aurora Biolena (12 points). It was a successful come-from-behind title romp for the UA&P cagebelles, who dropped the opener of the championship series, 57-58, but bounced back with a 51-46 in Game 2 to force the winner-take-all. Meantime, the Miriam College Katipuneras advanced into the midgets and junior volleyball and junior basketball best-of-three finals. The Katipuneras will face San Beda College Alabang in the midgets volleyball play. Miriam dethroned St. Scholastica, 25-20, 26-24, to arrange a finals meeting with San Beda, which defeated DLSZ, 25-21, 25-17. Miriam will dispute the juniors volleyball crown with St. Scholastica's. The Miriam spikers outlasted San Beda, 25-21, 25-22, 26-24, while St. Scholastica's survived St. Jude Catholic School, 25-12, 17-25, 25-16, 25-9, in the semis. Miriam will defend its title against Angelicum in the junior basketball division following a 64-43 win over De La Salle Zobel. Angelicum got through after dumping Chiang Kai Shek College, 57-56, in the knockout Final Four. – Perry Legaspi, GMANews.TV