Former two-time champion Diliman College completed the semis cast in the Universities and Colleges Athletic League-PG Flex Linoleum Season 6 with an 80-73 win over No. 2 seed Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas in the rubber match of their quarterfinal series yesterday at the Paco Arena in Manila in Manila.
The Blue Dragons, who finished seventh in the eliminations, rode the hot hands of Axl Ross Taporco and the razzle-dazzle performance of Robbie Marion Darang to dismantle PCU-D’s two-game advantage and secure the right to face No. 3 Olivarez College in the Final Four which is a knockout affair.
Top seed and defending champion Centro Escolar University faces Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas in the other semis pairing on Thursday in the event also presented by Angel’s Pizza.
Taporco, who also starred in the team’s 83-81 win last Thursday that forced the knockout match, buried six three-pointers to finish with 26 points apart from logging seven boards and two assists in almost 30 minutes of action.
But it was Darang who shone brightest as he produced a rare triple-double with 18 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds.