FEU, La Salle-Taft, UE cagers lead Nike games

The Far Eastern University scored its sixth straight victory with a 77-69 triumph over University of the Philippines in Group A, and De La Salle-Taft demolished sister squad De La Salle-Dasmariñas, 100-47, to tie for the lead with the University of the East in Group B of the 2007 Nike Summer Basketball League being held at the Far Eastern University Gym in Manila. Benedict Fernandez scored 18 points for the Tamaraws, who have already assured themselves of the No. 1 spot and a quarterfinal round berth, according to a league statement released on Thursday. Mac Baracael added 14 points and Mark Barroca contributed 10 for the Tamaraws, who are now being handled by former PBA cager Glenn Capacio, Jojo Borja, and Michael Oliver. Migs de Asis carried the fight for the Maroons with 15 points, followed by VJ Serious with 11 points. The state university absorbed its third defeat in four games. De La Salle, which is also assured of a quarterfinals slot with five straight victories, got 17 points from rookie guard James Mangahas, 15 from Cholo Villanueva, 11 from Oliver Cua, and 10 from PJ Walsham. Lennon Lasin finished with 11 points for the Patriots, who went down to their fifth straight setback. In other games, the Jose Rizal University bounced back into contention by beating Olivarez College, 102-87, for its third win in five games. In the women's division, the Philippine College of Criminolgy stopped the University of Santo Tomas, 57-47, for its third win in four matches; and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines nipped La Consolacion College, 68-49. It was UST's first loss in four outings. - GMANews.TV