PinoyLiga semis: Maroons take on Bulldogs, Eagles battle Generals

University of the Philippines faces National University in a UAAP Season 85 Final Four rematch while Ateneo plays lone NCAA survivor Emilio Aguinaldo College in the PinoyLiga Collegiate Cup semifinals on Tuesday, June 27 at the Villar Coliseum in Las Piñas City.

The Fighting Maroons and the Bulldogs slug it out for a place in the Finals at 12:30 p.m., right after the Blue Eagles – the reigning UAAP champions – and the Generals, who are making huge strides under new coach Jerson Cabiltes, take the floor at 10 a.m.

Tickets are available online at https://ticket2me.net and on the venue on the game day for only P200.

UP and EAC punched the last two semis tickets after surviving last Sunday’s knockout quarterfinals games in the tournament backed by Pinoyliga, Kick-Start Coffee, Slicktight Pomade, Antbox, Smart, Ducksports, Exile Lights and Sound and Excellent Print.

UP’s Chris Hubilla CONTRIBUTED PHOTO 

Aldous Torculas powered the Fighting Maroons to a 92-76 victory over San Beda Sunday at the Activate Hoop Arena in Mandaluyong City.

The Generals turned to King Gurtiza to oust Mapua, 84-69, in the other do-or-die pairing.

Missing CJ Cansino, JD Cagulangan, and Malick Diouf for the second straight, Torculas made sure that UP won’t squander the twice-to-beat bonus with a solid all-around performance of 26 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in the win-or-go home game.

Rookies Chicco Briones and Mark Belmonte scored 12 points apiece while Harold Alarcon and Reyland Torres each had 11 markers for the Fighting Maroons, who are eyeing a second preseason title for the year.

UP is bracing for a tough NU crew, which has a 6-2 record and just needed a game in Elite Eight to seal its entry to the Final Four.

RC Calimag, who had a tournament-best 41 markers in his previous outing, could only muster 13 points as the Red Lions, still without several key players, bowed out of contention.

Gurtiza had a solid all-around game for the Generals with 14 points, four assists, four rebounds and three steals, as they withstood Clint Escamis’ 20-point, seven-board, four-assist, four assist outing for the Cardinals.

Ralph Robin took the scoring mantle with 15 points while JP Maguliano and Mac Balowa chipped in 13 and 10 points, respectively.

Ranged against an Ateneo side still undefeated in the competition, EAC will leave everything on the floor to pull off a major reversal.