West Negros College hammered Eastern Visayas State University, 92-69, yesterday to complete a five-game sweep in the eliminations of bracket A of the 60th National Students Inter-Collegiate Basketball Championships at the Ibalon Centrum Recreation Gym in Legazpi City, Bicol.

The Mustangs earned the top seed in bracket A entering into the quarterfinal round with a 5-0 slate after scoring a resounding 101-72 victory over OLLC of Region VIII Wednesday night.

WNC, which reached the quarterfinals of the national event held in Dumaguete City last year, earlier posted wins against defending champion University of Perpetual Help, 62-58; Calayan Education Foundation, 92-66, and Aquinas University, 101-62.

After cruising through their first four assignments, the Mustangs were tested in the first half by EVSU as it leveled the score at 32 at halftime, but the Wesnecans proved too strong for their rivals, establishing a 64-52 buffer entering the fourth quarter.

West Negros relied on its stellar perimeter attack as it connected 13 three-point attempts --- courtesy of three different players --- to put away the feisty EVSU squad in the second half.

Ely Olarte powered the Mustangs' balanced offensive charge after pouring in 19 points, with 12 coming from the three-point area, while Vengie Vergara canned all of his 18 markers from beyond the arc.

Second stringer Randy Baydo finished with 15 points after hitting three three-point shots as Sunny Abaring, Sivirino Baclao and Geban Espiritu chipped in 11 nmarkers each.

WNC coach Elvis Atinado said that the key to their victories has been defense.

"The team's offense might be off at any point, but if we play solid defense all the time I believe that we will have chance to win every game," Atinado told the DAILY STAR. Atinado, who mentored the Mustangs to their first national crown last year in the National University Games, said his squad is ready for the quarterfinals.

In the encounter against OLLC, the Wesnecans relied on the solid production of their bench players to pull off the victory.

Bernard Suante and back-up point guard Joemar Tan led West Negros' scoring as they registered 16 and 13 points, respectively. Olarte and Baclao finished with 12 and 9 points, respectively.

WNC has won the NOPSSCEA crown for seven straight years.

The Mustangs will clash with University of Luzon in the quarters today. *CIT

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