THE University of the Philippines Maroons clinched the No. 1 seeding in the knockout semis round of the PG Flex Invitational Tournament 2025 Quintana Cup with an 86-66 demolition of Gardner College on Thursday at the Paco Arena in Manila.
Coming off a 78-63 win over reigning UCAL champion Olivarez College, the Maroons buckled down to serious business right away, catching the Gardner Knights off-guard with their air-tight defense that led to several scoring spurts for a commanding 32-14 advantage.
Gardner never recovered from that assault and UP went on to extend its winning streak to six games since defaulting its opening game to seal the No. 1 seed in the 9-team preseason tournament – thanks to another well-balanced attack.
Letran seals semis spot
Meantime, Letran, getting solid games from Denzil Sison-Walker and Rogelio Calagos, scored a 73-70 win over the Olivarez Sea Lions to complete the semis cast in the event backed by Smart Sports, Crane, Topflite, Hapee Toothpaste, Gerry’s Grill, Spalding, Mighty Bond, Best Options, Multimotors Auto Parts, Vital Water and AZI.
The Knights from Intramuros finished with a 5-3 card while the Centro Escolar University Scorpions tied the Sea Lions for second to third places at 5-2 after a 79-59 drubbing of two-time UCAL champion Diliman College.
The Maroons, who had four players scoring in double figures with Russel Ogana leading the way with 23 points spiked by four triples, close out their elimination campaign against the still winless Immaculada Concepcion College on Monday.
With Sison-Walker and Calagos at the helm, Letran outscored Olivarez, 30-15, in the second quarter to grab a 38-33 halftime lead which they wisely protected to prevail.
Sison-Walker logged in 18 points and seven boards while Calagos completed a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds plus three assists in performances that negated the 22-point and 21-rebound showing by Olivarez’s Hakim Njiasse.
Abraham Apugi Takpiny registered 21 points and 10 boards and Christ Jay Singson added 14 points on three triples and 6 assists as the Scorpions stretched their winning run to four games.
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