USLS post 4th straight win

UNIVERSITY of St. La Salle-President's Gym rolled to its 4th straight win against New Negros Coliseum 104-92, while Colegio de San Agustin-Bacolod-Choi Sportswear defeated Toyota Motors 105-98 in Class A action of the Tan Kek Pin Memorial Basketball Cup at TTHS Po Hang Gym last Saturday.

In the nightcap, Willtrade - Sagay Central frustrated Allure DM/Bobcat 87-70.

Choi Sportswear was outscored in 3 of the 4 quarters but Choi outscored Toyota in the quarter that mattered most, 32-15, in the 3rd quarter to pull out the win.

After Toyota took a 51-47 halftime lead, Choi raced past Toyota in the 3rd quarter for a 79-66 advantage with contributions from 8 players led by Tommy Andren with 3 triples.

Toyota again outscored Choi in the payoff quarter, as Keith Pido and Jhan McHale Nermal scored 9 points and 7 points, respectively. It was not enough to overhaul the lead, as Andren continued to hit for more triples and Peewee Demonteverde scored 5 points for the team's 3rd win in 4 starts.

Andren sunk 8 triples for 24 points to pace Choi, Demonteverde added 15 points, Ruel Balgos and Urminico Baronda shot 13 points, Jornel Laborte made 12 points and Botchoy Solinap had 9 points.

Toyota was led by Nermal with 20 points, Pido had 18 points, Marcelo Cariño delivered 16 points, Kraniel Villoria had 13 points, John Limuel Pastias 8 points and Joemar Ligna 7 points.

New Negros Coliseum faced a 45-41 deficit at the half against league leader USLS. Janus Calma and Mark De La Cruz scored 9 points apiece and Rendell Bernales had 7 points while Joemil Garrido made 14 points and Alintano had 9 points for NNC.

Garrido and Alintano continued to lead NNC, combining for 17 points, but the 3-point shooting of President's Gym found its mark with Eman Sevilla and Bernales at the firing end with 2 apiece and Calma picking up 9 points, as USLS continued to reign at 78 -69.

Sevilla hit 2 more triples at the start of the 4thquarter and Maravilla gave support with 7 points, as USLS maintained its unblemished record.

Calma paced President's Gym with 18 points, backstopped by De La Cruz with 13 points, Eman Sevilla 12, Bernales 10, Scott Salvacion 9 points and Kevin Villafranca 7 points.

Garrido sizzled with 33 points, Alintano added 17 points, Richard Caberte shot 16 points and Eric Bacomo had 8 points.

After the Bobcat took the 1st quarter 17-13, Willtrade outscored the Bobcats in the next 2 quarters, with Ramer Javillo and Joemarie Bayhon combining for 18 points to grab the lead at halftime 35-33.

Willtrade scored on their fastbreak opportunities engineered by Bayhon and Jade Dasas with 6 points each, as Willtrade extended the lead to a commanding 68-49 at the end of the 3rd quarter.

Javillo had a gamehigh 19 points, Bayhon 16 points, Cagayao 9 points, Dasas 8 points, Jeff Jacinto and Maningo 7 points each and Alvarez added 6 points.

Robbie Jalando-on and Leo Bat-og made 15 points each in a losing cause, Stanley Tizon made 9 points, Kurt Goodwin and Chan with 6 points each and Jan Jan Lopue had 5 points. (Stephen Tan)