DEFENDING champion Bacolod Tay Tung High School sent University of St. La Salle reeling with a 90-74 win to take Game 1 of the Best-of-3 finals in the ongoing National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) Bacolod Leg at the at the Natalio G. Velez gym in Silay City.

Coach Tata Belangel orchestrated an 18-10 blast in the opening quarter for Tay Tung behind Mart James Barrera and Miguel Corteza who combined for 10 points as Andy John Villamer added three markers.

Jeffrey Abordo and Howell Ian Santiago scored four points apiece for Ryan Nabor-mentored La Salle side in that span.

The Thunderbolts, behind Barrera sizzling for 10 points and Ralph Cagalawan’s nine, which included a triple, surged to a 49-26 advantage at the break.

Junior Stingers Santiago and Riggy Alinsoring led 16-point output but were not enough to turn the tide.

Abordo and Alinsoring knocked five points apiece to spark a 24-point run against Tay Tung’s 19, cutting the deficit to 18 points approaching the final period.

Both Abordo and Alinsoring also combined another 11 points in the fourth as John Serudo added four points for La Salle’s 24 total points.

Point guard Ryan Cruz, who scored six points in the first half, shot eight points to lead BTTHS in a 22-point output.

Game 2 is scheduled on Sunday, Jan. 29, still in Silay City. (HGD)