UNO-R A Davies post 5th straight win

UNO-R A Davies Philippines escaped CSA-B Choi Sportswear in overtime 96-91 and Allure DM/Bobcat downed Toyota Motors 98-94 in Class A action of the 13th Tan Kek Pin Memorial Basketball Cup at TTHS Po Hang Gym.

Willtrade Sagay Central defeated UNO-R B in the 1st game 105-91.

Jade Paul Calma picked the right time to shine, as he scored 10 points in the overtime period to lead UNO-R A to its 5th straight win.

Choi Sportswear rallied from a 23-point 3rd quarter deficit and was able to force overtime but miscues and turnovers spoiled their chances to complete the come-from-behind win.

Davies had a 53-34 halftime lead as their offense was clicking in all fronts led by Joemel Paderog's 14 points and Cedric Eslabon's 10 points with teammates Mark Ramos and Richer Santillan combining for 15 points against Ruel Balgos picking up 18 points for CSA-B.

The lead of UNO-R A ballooned to 23 points, but Atoy Salazar and Jornel Laborte caught fire with 11 and 9 points, respectively, to cut the deficit to 60-50 going to the 4th quarter.

The zone defense of Choi forced Davies to rely on outside shots for their offensive sets.

UNO-R A remained on top at 72-63 with still 7 minutes remaining when Salazar scored 7 straight points to cut the lead to a single basket.

Balgos and Laborte continued to pound it inside to keep CSA-B within striking distance. UNO-R A scored its last point in regulation on a Rodel Canino bank shot for a 79-74 advantage at the 2:14 mark.

Choi responded with 5 straight points, as Salazar made a 16-foot jumpshot with 7 ticks left to force overtime.

UNO-R A could not take advantage of its free throw chances, as they converted only 3 of 6 free throws while Salazar delivered another trey and Balgos converted a putback to give Choi an 86-82 lead with 2:23 left.

Disaster struck as Davies scored 6 straight points in a span of 23 seconds, as Choi committed 2 turnovers and Jade Paul Calma sparked the UNO-R offense with 4 straight points and Coleen Testa's free throws gave the lead to the Rams at 88-86.

Calma continued to display hands of steel, as he sunk 4 free throws to give UNO-R a 92-87 lead. On the other hand, Laborte scored on 2 putbacks to draw closer anew at 92-91.

Canino converted a free throw for a 2-point lead with 17.7 seconds left. Choi missed on the chance to tie or take the lead, as it committed another turnover.
A Testa steal resulted to a 3-point play that sealed the victory for Davies.

Paderog topscored with 20 points before fouling out, Canino added 19 points, Calma scored 13 points while Eslabon and Richer Santillan delivered 11 points apiece. Ramos delivered 10 points and Testa chipped in 7 points.

Salazar made 26 points in a losing effort, Laborte scored 24 points, Balgos shot 22 points and Peewee Demonteverde had 11 points.

In the other game, Toyota's Keith Pido scored 10 straight points in the payoff quarter to cut the lead of Allure DM to 86-82.

Stanley Tizon's triple and Ren Ren Lacson's back-to-back hits answered Kraniel Villoria and Jude Fel Junto's layups, as Allure remained on top with a 94-86 lead.

Pido scored on a layup and Junto nailed a corner trey to cut the lead to 3 points with 58. 2 seconds left.

Ritche Militante's putback gave some breathing room for the Bobcats 22 seconds later, but James Calvez made it exciting once again as he nailed a triple with 4 seconds left to cut the deficit to a single basket.

Tizon iced the 2nd win of Allure with 2 free throws with only half a second left on the clock.

Kraniel Villoria was unstoppable in the 1st half, sinking 5 treys for 23 pts, but the Bobcats had a more balanced offensive as they took a 52-44 halftime lead, courtesy of the trio of Arnol Laureño, Robbie Jalando-on and Ren Ren Lacson with 14, 13 and 9 points, respectively.

In the 3rd quarter, Jalando-on and Militante produced 6 points apiece against Junto's 9 points as Toyota cut the deficit to 72-66.

Laureño paced Allure DM with 23 points, Jalando-on picked up 20 points, Militante scored 19 points, Lacson hit 15 points, Kurt Goodwin 8 points, Stanley Tizon made 7 points and Nico Lopingco had 6 points.

Villoria fired a game-high 30 points, Junto shot 22 points, Pido made 16 points while Calvez and Brent Bautista scored 6 points each and Kobe Vizcarra contributed 5 points.

Joemarie Bayhon fired 31 points, with 7 coming from the rainbow area, to lead Willtrade to its 3rd victory. He was backstopped by teammates Javillo with 24 points, Ernesto Cagayao 14 points, Marlon TalaTala 12 points, Virgilio Dapar 11 points and Lawrence Cornelio 8 points.

UNO-R B was paced by Crispin Oquindo with 21 points, John Buenaflor 14 points, Jafet Claridad and Marlon Romero with 9 points apiece, John Gil Aposaga and Steven Enema with 6 points each.

In Saturday's game, University of St. La Salle President's Gym continued to lead the tournament with a 6-0 win-loss card by routing Toyota Motors 88-63.

Choi Sportswear turned back UNO-R B 88-81 and UNO-R A Davies' furious 2nd quarter offense powered it past Allure DM/Bobcat 99-71. (Stephen Tan/Contributor)