NAASCU: Olympians tower over Hawks, 86-72

The STI College Olympians demolished on Monday five-time champs University of Manila Hawks, 86-72, to move within a win of bagging the title of the 2007 National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (NAASCU) basketball tournament at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Haddi Porto, the almost forgotten guard in the veteran-laden Olympian lineup, scored 21 points to power the Vic Ycasiano-mentored team to a surprisingly easy victory over the Hawks, the league said Monday. Porto, a starting guard relegated into the background following the entry of three prized recruits this year, starred in the Olympians' decisive 25-13 assault in the second quarter that turned the game around. Raymond Tiongco, one of the Olympians' three newcomers this year, added 16 points, while Ramon Mabayo added 10 points . The Olympians will gun for their first-ever title when it meets the Hawks again in game 2 at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. "We'll go for it on Wednesday," coach Ycasiano said. "We have to do it. We can't take any chances against UM." Ycasiano has steered the Olympians to their third straight finals appearance in four years. The Olympians finished runnerup to the Hawks in 2005 and to AMA Computer University Titans last year. Frank Martin Bonus and Onofre Napiza led the Hawks with 20 and 15 points, respectively. In another game, the San Sebastian College-Cavite Baycats humbled deposed champs Titans, 82-69, to clinch third place. Glenn Bolocon fired 26 points to power the Baycats of coach Egay Macarya to victory. The scores First game SSCR-C (82): Bolocon 26, Gracilla 15, Cenita 8, Echavez 8, Alcasabas 6, Reyes 6, Lucernas 4, Villareal 3, Callado 3, Filio 2, Basa 1, Hatague 0 AMACU (69): Abac 22, Mollena 11, Jaime 10, Vergara 9, Galang 8, Manalang 5, Zablan 2, Donasco 2, Bernardo 0 Quarter scores: 15-20, 36-31, 50-47, 82-69 Second game STI (86): Porto 21, Tiongco 16, Mabayo 10, Micutuan 9, Juan 8, Balneg 7, Flor 6, Cabangon 4, Tolentino 3, Dimas 2, Mendoza 0 UM (72): Bonus 20, Napiza 15, Malinao 12, Assuncion 12, Guimpatan 5, Delos Trinos 3, Facun 2, Lacap 2, Paguio 1, Sadsad 0, Mulawin 0 Quarter scores: 15-20, 40-33, 62-54, 86-72

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