Game Monday
(Olivarez gym, Parañaque City)
12 noon – UB vs Olivarez
University of Batangas and Olivarez College go at it one last time for the last finals berth in the UCBL. (UCBL Images)
University of Batangas and Olivarez College battle for the remaining finals berth Monday in the PG Flex Linoleum-Universities and Colleges Basketball League at the Olivarez gym in Parañaque City.
Match is at 12 noon with the winner arranging a best-of-three finals showdown against defending champion Diliman College starting Thursday.
The Diliman Blue Dragons, which needed only a victory to advance due to their top seeding, squeaked past fourth seed Centro Escolar University Scorpions 64-63.
Needing to beat No. 2 Olivarez Sea Lions twice in the semifinals, the third-ranked UB Brahmans came full force last Monday to prevail 89-80 and keep their finals hopes alive.
In that match, five players scored in double figures including JJ Caspe and Raoul yemeli, who had 16 points each apart from merging for 16 rebounds, 10 assists and six steals.
Caspe and Yemeli are expected to lead the squad on both ends once again, along with other double-digit finishers Joseph Torres, Mart De Ramos and Don Tabol.
Torres also fired 16 points including three triples, while De Ramos and Tabol chipped in 11 points apiece.
Olivarez, meanwhile, hopes homecourt advantage will play a big role in finishing what it failed to do the last time with the all-around plays of Jayboy Solis, Ace Lavariaz and Lance De Leon at the forefront.
Solis has been consistently delivering double-digit numbers including a 23-point production the last time on top of 10 rebounds, six assists and three blocks. Lavariaz and De Leon added 15 and 11 points in a failed attempt.
Olivarez, however, needed to polish its plays after committing 26 errors the last time that had UB converting it to 27 points.