ZAMBOANGA CITY – Using a mean pressure defense to trigger their run-and-gun game, Western Visayas' men's basketball team strengthened its bid for a semifinal bid with an 83-59 drubbing of Caraga yesterday amid sweltering conditions at the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex.

West Negros University standout Alfie Villariza pumped in 32 points, while Vengie Vergara came away with 28 points on seven triples as the Region 6 squad kept its flickering hopes alive, after dropping its first two games against lightweight foes.

Unlike its first game against Davao where it squandered an 18-point first quarter lead, the Western Visayas cagers sustained their hot start under the noontime heat, thanks to a balanced offensive spearheaded by Villariza, who posted 13 points in the second half.

It was Vergara who set the tone for the rout, draining six triples in the first half as Region 6 broke the game wide open in the first quarter that ended 32-10.

The quintet of coach Dennis Tumayan, however, need to overcome Central Luzon, bannered by Angeles University Foundation, at 4 p.m. today to at least gain a tie for the second semifinals berth in their bracket.

In other events, Western Visayas, represented by the core of the University of St. La Salle's champion NOPSSCEA team, clinched a semifinal berth in women's volleyball, after notching its fifth win last night.

The lady spikers of coach Roger Banzuela overpowered Ilocos, 25-13, 25-10, 25-19, after toppling Caraga, 25-9, 25-18, 25-11 yesterday morning.

The WV men's football team, composed of WNU and University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos players, goes for a finals berth against Cebu at 8:30 a.m. at the JEMSC pitch.

The booters, mentored by Noah Sajo and Carlo Torbela, go into the match buoyed by a two-game winning streak that included victories over Cotabato, 10-1, and title contender Davao, 2-1.

Meanwhile, the women's chess team, composed of Mary Grace Tambasen, Josella Uy, Annie Montales and Jennifer Nacion, is in third with 11 points, after losing to Central Visayas 3-1 yesterday.

Ahead of the pack are NCR and Central Visayas, with identical 11.5 markers. The two leaders part ways today, which could provide the opening for the squad of coach Ericson Rios, which hopes to bolster it bid by grabbing maximum points against lightweight Bicol.

The men's team of Marvin Ting, Richfield Rivera, Danny Mangao and Mark Mariano hung on to its precarious lead when it drew with Central Visayas, 2-2, yesterday. The WV chessers have 11.5 points, followed by Davao and Central Visayas 11 points.*CPT

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