Games Thursday:

(Olivarez gym)

12 noon – CEU vs LPU-Batangas

2 p.m. – Diliman  vs Olivarez

DILIMAN College is on a roll.

Diliman played just hard enough to subdue Technological Institute of the Philippines, 92-90, and prime itself up for a much-awaited showdown with Olivarez College  in the Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) Season 3 at the Olivarez gym in Parañaque City.

Robby Darang provided the spark for the Blue Dragons, finishing with 28 points,  four rebounds and three assists in a splendid performance that  rubbed off to his teammates.

John Mahari added 23 points and import Kevine Gandjeto  of Benin contributed  a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds in the Dragons’ third straight win.

Overall, the Diliman-based team of former Sen. Nikki Coseteng and coach Rensy Bajar moved up into a  two-way tie for second  place  with Centro Escolar University with identical  4-1 win-loss.

Diliman gets a chance to gain a share of the top spot when it meets league-leader  Olivarez College tomorrow (Oct. 11).

“W did not  exactly have an ideal finish after we led by as many as 16 points (66-50), but the boys kept their composure  and re-grouped in time,” said Bajar, also the first assistant coach  of  NorthPort Batang Pier in the PBA.

“It shows the character of the team in a different game scenario. We did not let pressure to affect our game and we did not lose our sights on our goal,” added Bajar, who  has succesfully turned Diliman College into one of  the most-feared teams in  collegiate basketball.

Bajar thanked Sen. Coseteng,  Jerome Ngo, Wilson Sia and James Ngo of Gerry’s Grill for their continued support to the team.

Helping the Blue Dragons  keep the Engineers at bay was their  tremendous energy on the court, where they translated the opponents’ record 33 turnovers into 28 points from  the  free throw line.

The Blue Dragons’ pesky defense  also enabled  them to get more steals, 19-2, than  the Engineers.

Darang highlighted his fine offensive game with four three-point shots.

Before beating TIP, Diliman also won over newcomer St. Joseph  College  of  Bulacan (126-71),  Philippine  Christian University-Dasmariñas  (125-83)  and Lyceum of the  Philippines-Batangas (103-68).

Their only setback came against CEU, 61-88.

The scores:

First game

Diliman  (92) -- Darang 28, Mahari 23, Gandjeto 11, Bauzon 10, Coquia 8, Brutas 5, Salazar 4, Lisika 2, Enriquez 1, Ligon 0.

TIP (90)-- Santos B. 21, Soriano 15, Ndiaye 13, Jimenez 12, Tan 9, Ramilo 6, Santos I. 6, Palisoc 4, Ramos 4, Navarro 0, Verzosa 0.

Quarterscores: 25-18; 57-48; 77-68; 92-90.