Lady Tams, Bulldogs rule CAL caging

MANILA, Philippines - Far Eastern U and National U scored contrasting victories to rule their respective divisions in the Collegiate Athletic League at the Trinity University of Asia last Sunday.

The Lady Tamaraws thwarted the UST Tigresses twice in the semifinal then rallied past last year’s champion the Lyceum Lady Pirates, 50-49, to capture the women’s crown.

The Bulldogs, meanwhile, dominated the Olivarez Sea Lions and rolled to a 67-50 rout to run away with the men’s crown in the tournament backed by Philippine Sports commissioner Aiko Thomson-Guevara and Krooberg Outdoor Gear.

The Lady Tams trailed the Lady Pirates majority of the way and were behind 36-41 with seven minutes left in the final quarter until MVP Camille Sambile joined hands with Ana Valenzona to shove FEU to a 43-42 lead with a little over two minutes left in the contest.

FEU kept a 50-49 lead then watched the Lady Pirates’ Chacky Cabinbin fumble on a drive to snatch the victory.

Sambile and Arlene Gesalan topscored for FEU with 13 points apiece while Valenzona chipped in eight markers. Mheann Vasquez and Cabinin led the Lady Pirates with 18 and 10 points, respectively.

Camille and Vasquez, together with FEU’s Vangie Soriano, Adamson U’s Sara Boot, and Marian Mejia from UST made it to the Mythical Five selection.

NU scored 19 unanswered points to start the third quarter and cruised to victory that more than made up for their 20-point blowout loss to the Sea Lions in the elims. MVP Renen Selda pumped in 13 points for NU.

Selda also made it to the Mythical Five with Sea Lions Michael Villar and Mark Guillen, Joshua Alcober from TUA, and Enderun’s Ervin Maravilla. Krooberg’s Raul Roque and Julius Penaranda from the organizing LAN Sports & Events presented the trophies to the winning teams.

Earlier, TUA beat Enderun, 83-80, while Ateneo edged UST, 57-53, for third.