ANDRE Paras returned from a severe ankle sprain injury and inspired the AMA University Titans in getting back on the winning following a convincing 105-62 triumph over the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals in the Sta. Lucia Land-NCRAA men’s basketball tournament at the A.R. Valdez Hall of PATTS College of Aeronautics.
With the win, the Titans ended up their win-loss record at 6-1 to get back on top of the standings in Group B, which means they will be heading as the No.1 team in the wildcard phase, which begins on Tuesday. The team ended up in a tie with the Philippine Merchant Marine School, which the Titans defeated on opening day.
Paras missed the last three games of the Titans, but his return boosted the squad, which went off to a 62-37 lead and was never seriously threatened.
Daniel Salonga finished with 27 points and five steals while Owen Graham had another monster game, coming away with a double-double effort of 22 points and 18 rebounds.
Paras tallied 11 points and hit two triples to go along with four rebounds and three blocks in 38 minutes of playing time.
Also winning were University of Makati and De La Salle-Dasmarinas.
University of Makati banked on Aaron Yanday and Clark Kim Ongpauco in winning over National College of Business Administration, 64-61.
De La Salle University-Dasmarinas, on the other hand, outplayed Pamantasan Ng Lungsod Ng Muntinlupa, 75-67, in the last elims game. The two teams will square off anew in the wildcard phase.
Other teams seeing action in the wildcard phase on Tuesday are Technological Institute of the Philippines against New Era University; PATTS taking on UMak and De Ocampo Memorial College squaring off with University of Luzon. The four winners will make it to the quarterfinal round on March 2 at the Olivarez College Gym where they will join Olivarez, AMA, PMMS and Saint Francis of Assisi College.
Games Tuesday (PATTS)
10 a.m. — TIP vs. New Era
12:00 n.n. — DLSU-D vs. PLMun
2 p.m. De Ocampo vs. UL
4 p.m. PATTS vs. UMak