University of the Philippines delivered a preview of its vaunted firepower when it clobbered San Beda University, 78-75, to advance to the semifinals of the Ballout Sports Inter-Collegiate Champions Challenge recently at the Central Recreational and Fitness Center in Quezon City.
Chico Briones played his best game of the tournament as he bannered the Fighting Maroons to their third straight victory.
Briones, the 20-year-old son of former Philippine Basketball Association playmaker Lowell Briones, scattered 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting on top of eight rebounds while Cyril Gonzales hit 6-of-9 from the field to finish with 14 points for UP, which is regarded as the team to beat in the coming season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
Harold Alarcon also continued his solid showing as he chipped in 13 points and four rebounds while Reylan Torres added 11 points, six rebounds and four assists for the Fighting Maroons, who outrebounded the Red Lions, 49-40, and dominated the paint with 46 points.
But it was the bench production that carried the Fighting Maroons as they drew 55 points from their second stringers compared to only 19 from the Red Lions.
UP will face a dangerous foe in College of Saint Benilde in the crossover semifinals on Friday.
Also advancing to the Final Four was St. Clare College of Caloocan, which pulled off a 58-53 stunner over an Ateneo team that paraded Gilas Pilipinas big man Mason Amos.
Amos saw action for 28 minutes and ended up with eight markers, including two three-pointers, but the Saints refused to get intimidated by the Blue Eagles’ highly-celebrated acquisition.
Instead, Jimboy Estrada and Ryan Sual were business as usual as they came away with yet another solid game.
Estrada knocked in 15 points, including a perfect 5-of-5 shooting from the charity stripes, while Rual had 10 markers on 4-of-8 shooting from the field for the Saints, who arranged a knockout semifinal duel with National University also on Friday.