UE, behind the sterling performance of Nelson Mariano III, dominated Adamson (3-1) and Ateneo (3.5-.5) over the weekend to pad its lead over its closest pursuer with 28.5 points out of a possible 32.0.

The UE chessers can wrap up the title if they win over National University (9.0 points) and UST (16.5) in the final two rounds.

If they retain the title, Mariano is likely to emerge the tournament MVP. Mariano is still unbeaten in eight matches.

Running second in juniors play is Adamson U (23.5), followed by Ateneo and UST with identical 16.5 outputs.

Sherily Cua continued her winning run for the Tigresses as she led her team to a 3-1 sixth round rout of NU Saturday and a 4-0 shutout of UE in the seventh round Sunday for 24.5 points, 6.5 points ahead of second-running Far Eastern U (17.5).

In men’s action, FEU earned six points at the expense of NU and UST on similar 3-1 blowouts during the weekend action at the UE Briefing Room and stayed on top of the seven-team field with 25.0 points. Breathing down the Tamaraws’ necks, however, were the Adamson Falcons, who are 2.0 points behind with 23.0. Tournament host UE is at 19.0.

Meantime, the Ateneo Lady Eagles fell anew Sunday, this time – again – to University of Santo Tomas (UST), 60-51, that made the contest in the women’s basketball crown a wild open race..

That’s because FEU repeated over another heavyweight in former champion Adamson, 46-38, also last Sunday at the Blue Eagle gym, thus keeping the Lady Tamaraws on top of the heap with nine wins and two losses.

Marichu Bacaro exploded with 26 points in 36 minutes of play for the who earned a seat in the semifinals with their eighth win in 11 games. That card of the Tigresses imperiled the season of the Lady Falcons, who at 6-5 face the possibility of being booted out of the final four picture by University of the Philippines (UP).

The Lady Maroons also tote a 5-6 record, their fifth win coming from a 101-51 rout of the NU Lady Bulldogs also Sunday.

The Lady Eagles, 59-62 losers to the Lady Tamaraws a week ago, were limited to only 14 points in the second quarter. They trailed the Tigresses—who beat them, 69-57, in the first round—at 31-27 at halftime.