Tan Kek Pin Memorial Basketball Cup UNO-R, USLS post wins

UNIVERSITY of Negros Occidental Team B debuted with a 74-63 victory over Toyota Bacolod while University of St. La Salle President’s Gym pulled away in the payoff quarter to rack up its third straight win against WIlltrade-Sagay Central 79-72 in a 5 game sked last weekend of the Tan Kek Pin Memorial Basketball Cup at TTHS Po Hang Gym.

CSA-B Choi Sportswear defeated Allure DM/Bobcat 84-80. The Bobcats bounced back, trouncing New Negros Coliseum 83-74, while New Negros Coliseum yielded to Willtrade 96-82.

Willtrade /Sagay Central could not hold on to a 60-55 lead going to the 4thquarter, as USLS pounced on the missed shots and turnover by Willtrade to score on breakaway layups led by Mark De la Cruz’s 13 points and Kevin Villafranca’s 5 points.

De La Cruz paced President’s Gym with 21 points, Scott Salvacion hit 17 points, Villafranca made 16 points and Nike Montalvo had 9 points.

Ramer Javillo led the offensive for Sagay Central with 19 points, Jeff Jacinto added 14 points, Joemarie Bayhon sank 10 points, Arnold Gono made 8 points and Bobby Cepede contributed 7 points.

Willtrade was able to salvage a win against New Negros Coliseum, as Bayhon delivered 20 points, Javillo scored 19 points, Jeff Jacinto 18 points and Ernesto Cagayao 8 points.

White De Los Santos led NNC with 23 points, Rex Noble contributed 5 treys for 16 points and Stephen Barneso had 15 points.

In a battle of winless teams, Allure DM broke away from a 63-all deadlock at the end of the 3rd quarter to defeat New Negros Coliseum.

Bobcats hacked out the victory, as the twin tower combo of Arnol Laureño and Schulze bullied their way inside with 5 points each while Robbie Jalando-on was providing the outside firepower with 7 points.

Jalando-on spearheaded the Allure DM offense with 25 points, Laureño scored 15 points and Leo Bat-og made 11 points.

De Los Santos led NNC anew with 29 points, Raffy Silpao picked up 15 points, Erben Diaz had 13 points and Ervin De La Peña chipped in 12 points.

Choi Sportswear overcame a 39-33 deficit at the half, as Ruel Balgos and Tommy Andren each scored 8 points for a 58-52 lead as of halftime.

Choi continued to ride on its momentum in the 4th quarter, keeping Allure at bay and was able to withstand a late rally by Allure behind 3 successive triples, courtesy of Bat-og and Carl Oquindo.

Choi was steady from the free-throw, with the last 8 points delivered from the 15-ft line with Urminico Baronda sinking 5 of 6 gift shots.

In the nightcap in a battle of Team B and High School players, UNO-R came out on top, as Crispin Oquindo scattered 20 points, John Buenaflor and Mark Papa scored 10 points each. Steven Enema and Raymar Oblido delivered 6 points all from the trifecta área.

Toyota was led by Jhan Mchale Nermal with 18 points, Marcelo Cariño 10 points, Keith Pido 7 points, Danmer Gabito and Brent Bautista 6 points each.

Games are played every weekend, with 3 games scheduled each day. Saturday games start at 4pm and Sunday games begin at 3pm.

Team Standings: USLS President’s Gym 3-0, CSAB Choi Sportswear 2-1, UNO-R A Davies Phils. and UNO-R B 1-0, Allure DM/Bobcat and WIlltrade-Sagay Central 1-2, Toyota Bacolod 0-1, New Negros Coliseum 0-3. (Stephen Tan-Contributor)