Lions, Ronins rule

The 2002 Lions continue their impressive run in Division 3, while fellow lower-seeds the 1997 Ronins and 2001 Lite Shipping beat their higher-seeded opponents in Division 2 in the semi-finals of the University of San Carlos (USC) NABC Summer League 2 powered by Common Ground last weekend at the USC North Gym.

The sixth-seed Lions upset the 2015 Assassins, 6257, to take Game 1 of the best-of-three series.

Enrico Llanto had another monster performance with 26 points, 13 rebounds, three steals and four blocks. Rafael Alcoseba and Jose Ruiz added 15 and 12, respectively.

Kent Malazarte had 14 points and eight boards for the second-seed Assassins.

No. 1 ranked 2008 Flyboys defeated the 2010 Pioneers, 73-66, in the other Division 3 semi-finals.

The No. 3 Ronins squeezed through the No. 2 1999ers, 55-50.

Jake Saturninas led the Ronins with 22 markers, seven rebounds, a steal and a block.

Mark Capili and Jess Minoza had 11 points each for the 1999ers.

No. 4 Lite Shipping, meantime, won against 1998 Sipat, 69-63.

AJ San Juan had a double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds, while Conrad Plando added 24 points and four boards for Lite Shipping.

Criz Matunog and Cromwell Po had 16 points apiece for the 1999ers.

In Division 1, top-seed 1994 Bulldogs defeated the 1998 Barako, 56-49; while the 1993 Dragons beat the 1985 Legends, 49-43. /