UE, Mapua advance

University of the East and Mapua played spoiler roles in the bids of two powerhouse teams from Cebu to advance into the Elite 8 as they scored contrasting wins in Saturday's 2009 Philippine Collegiate Champions League action at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Red Warriors leaned on a blazing triple-double performance from Paul Lee to defeat the June Mar Fajardo-led University of Cebu, 105-86, while the Cardinals escaped past nine-time CESAFI champion University of the Visayas, 76-73.

Both teams joined Ateneo, Far Eastern University, San Beda and Letran in the quarterfinals of the annual tournament that decides the country's top collegiate team.

Lee, who exhibited spectacular performances, shook off the absence of two veteran guards by hitting 31 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists while bruising forward Pari Llagas and Elmer Espiritu added 17 and 14 points, apiece.

UE will next meet FEU in a rematch of the UAAP Final Four held last September. The Recto-based dribblers overcame a twice-to-beat advantage by stunning the Tamaraws, who were distracted by the controversy surrounding the removal of star guard Mark Barroca.

Espiritu and Val Acuna, who had nine points, suited up for the team despite already in the lineup of the ASEAN Basketball League's Philippine Patriots.

But starting point guard Rudy Lingganay and Toto Bandaying failed to show up for the squad temporary handled by assistant Rene Baena in the absence of coach Lawrence Chongson as they are now with the ABL's Kuala Lumpur Dragons.

It was a rough showing for the Webmasters, whose 6-foot-9 star center June Mar Fajardo made his Metro Manila debut.

Fajardo, one of three players being eyed by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, proved that he is good as advertising making 24 points and 12 rebounds but the UC cagers coached by ex-pro Rhoel Gomez fell further behind in the second half.

Moncrief Rogado topscored for UC with 25 points in a losing cause.

Meanwhile, Mapua was down by four points, 71-67, when Regin Ranises came through with a booming four-point play off a foul by Harold Cincoflores with 1:20 left.

After rookie Emman Calo missed a three-pointer, Erwin Cornejo grabbed a missed shot by Paul Cinco before covering a putback off UV's highly-touted 6-foot-11 Fil-American center Greg Slaughter to take a 73-71.

The Green Lancers failed to score on the succeeding play leading to a three-point conversion by Mark Sarangay with 9.6 ticks left to secure the victory.

Allan Mangahas, who waxed hot during the zonals held in Manila, continued his hot shooting with 22 points to lead the Intramuros-based squad's grueling win.

It was a disappointing loss for the Green Lancers, who led by nine points early in the fourth quarter with Slaughter dominating the middle with 11 points in the first half.

Slaughter, also a member of the Smart Gilas national team, finished with 22 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks in a losing cause while Calo added 13 for the Green Lancers.

The Cardinals face a daunting task of beating NCAA runner-up San Beda in next week's Elite 8 action.

The scores:

First Game

UE 105 – Lee 31, Llagas 17, Espiritu 14, Zamar 10, Acuña 9, Reyes 6, Flores 5, Acibar 4, Ayala 3, Sumido 2, Noble 2, Duran 2.

UC 86 – Rogado 25, Fajardo 24, Juliane 13, Quilantang 6, Tano 5, Luceño 4, Abella 4, Gomez 3, Cayanong 2, Mohammad 0, Bernil 0.

Quarters: 28-23; 53-43; 83-61; 105-86.

Second Game

MAPUA 76 – Mangahas 22, Stevens 14, Raneses 12, Guillermo 10, Cornejo 6, Paraala 5, Sarangay 5, Cinco 2, Pascual 0, Acosta 0.

UV 73 – Slaughter 22, Calo 13, Lao 8, Cincoflores 8, Dennison 6, Diputado 6, Manigque 6, Mercader 4, Cabahug 0.

Quarters: 10-19, 31-28, 45-52, 76-73.