Tigers thump Falcons in PCCL basketball

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) routed Adamson University, 88-64, to complete the Final Four cast of the 2012 Philippine Collegiate Champions League on Monday at The Arena in San Juan City.

Aljon Mariano led the Growling Tigers with 20 points on 8- of- 11 shooting clip. He also had seven rebounds and a couple of assists.

“They [Adamson] improved a lot so we made some adjustments on our plays and I’m glad it worked,” said Mariano.

UST thus topped the Luzon-Metro Manila eliminations to join Ateneo de Manila University, San Beda College and Southwestern University in the Final Four, which will begin on Wednesday also at The Arena.

Ateneo and San Beda are the two seeded teams in the tournament, having won the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and National Collegiate Athletic Association crowns, respectively.

Southwestern, the reigning Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. titlist, ruled the Southern Islands qualifying to earn a spot in the Final Four.

Ateneo, San Beda, UST and Southwestern will be playing in a round- robin semifinals format. The top two squads will advance to the best- of- three championship showdown.

The Southwestern Cobras battle the San Beda Red Lions at 2 p. m. while the Ateneo Blue Eagles take on the Growling Tigers at 4 p. m.

EMIL C. NOGUERA