Sports: JSY Transport, USLS-Nhoj’s led 12th TKP Class A

JSY Transport and University of St. La Salle-Nhoj’s defeated their respective opponents Sunday to tie with four wins and a loss and led the six-team cast in the 12th Tan Kek Pin Memorial Basketball Cup held at the Po hang gym of Bacolod Tay Tung High School.

JSY Transport made up mostly of players from West Negros University routed an undermanned Talisay City, 94-65, in the main game and USLS-Nhojs beat University of Negros Occidental-Polvora’s Law Office, 94-84, at the close of the elimination round of the Class A division.

JSY Transport, however, ended as the top seed by virtue of the winner over the other rule.

The quarterfinals will be played this Friday, February 24, with No. 3 team, Talisay City armed with a twice to beat advantage battle No. 6, Fil-Sino Thunderbirds at 7 pm, followed by the knockout match between No. 4, Rogers Province of Negros Occidental and No. 5, UNO-R Polvora’s Law office.

Talisay City that showed up with seven players only kept pace with JSY, 25-21, in the opening quarter, but loses steam in the next two quarters, 77-48, advantage going to the last 12 minutes of the game.

JSY Transport Coach Arvin Gustilo fielded in his 14 players and responded well led by Jobert Pastias with 14 points, Ely Olarte added 12, Vengie Vergara scored 11, and Pipo Javelona had 10, while Michael Macon and Rolly Jaca had 7 points each.

Sonny Abaring and Joemel Garrido paced Talisay with 15 points apiece; Jehu Ayagan added 12 and Rudcel Nonato with 9.

UNO-R sluggish start served as USLS cushion for the victory. USLS took the opening quarter, 24-7, even as Polvora outscored NHOJS in the next two quarters, but they fell short as USLS was able recover its bearing in the last quarter to equal the output of UNO-R.

Scott Salvacion, Arturo Cuaresma and Kevin Villafranca finished with 15 points each for NHOJS; Allen Delagente and Gonzales with 8 points each.

Joemel Paderog, who was thrown out early in the fourth due to two successive technical fouls led Polvora with 27 points; Richer Santillan added 10 and Kim Dimaranan with 7.

Rogers/ Province of Negros Occidental ended the elimination round at 3-2 by defeating winless Fil-Sino Thunderbirds, 96-79.

Rodel Canino spearheaded Province with 20 points, Hermie Derwill added 19, and Mark Linaja delivered 15 and Bobby Cepeda made 12 points.

Thunderbirds were led by Robbie Jalando-on with 23 points, Carl John Oquindo picked up 16 and Richard Caberte delivered 14.* (CMGarde)