UNO-R Upsets Toyota CSA-B; Province Beats PD88 Handy Fix

It was a day of upsets when highly favored teams that led on top with unbeaten records succumbed to their respective opponents Sunday in the ongoing Class A action of the 10th Tan Kek Pin Memorial Basketball Cup at Po Hang Gym of Bacolod Tay Tung High School.

University of Negro Occidental-Recoletos barged into the win column with a victory over erstwhile unbeaten Toyota Bacolod CSAB, 77-69, likewise Province of Negros Occidental dealt PD888 Handy Fix its first loss, 72-66 and Globe Asiatique La Salle came from behind to nip Red Phoenix 96-95 in Class A action.

Although, Province of Negros Occidental is the defending champion, but formidable and strong lineup of PD88 Handy Fix gave them the advantage over other opponents in their division.

Richboy Javelona 3 triples propelled CSAB to a quick start for an 18-14 1st quarter lead, but as UNO-R started to clamp down on the shooters of CSAB, they slowly recovered and took the half at 38-27 behind Arnold Gono and John Guernilla producing 6 points apiece.

UNO-R kept their double digit lead going to the fourth quarter until Marfil Gaitan and Javelona strung up successive basketsto cut the lead to 62-55. A mini rally by CSAB Jornel Laborte and Jun Jun Lastimosa was cut short by baskets from Cedric Eslabon for a 70-61 lead with 1:35 minutes left.

Eslabon and Arnold Gono’s two free throws each answered Laborte’s 3-point play and Javelona’s two free throws. A Javelona’s trey cut the lead to 74-69 with 30.5 seconds left and Lastimosa made a steal in the ensuing play, but committed a costly turnover as the ball slipped his fingers when attempting a three.

Cedric Eslabon topscored for UNO-R with 16 points, Joemel Paderog chipped in 13 markers, Tata Javillo with 10, frontcourtmen Nat Salanga, Gono and John Guara had 8 points each.

Javelona paced Toyota with 19, Laborte with 11, Gaitan 10 and Gifter Gigje 8 points.

With 10 players contributing in the second quarter, Province took a 39-27 led at halftime reversing an early 20-16 1st quarter deficit. Province’ aggressive matchup zone defense kept the offense of PD888 Handy Fix in check.

Successive 3-point plays by PD888 got the lead down to 50-45 with 1:42 minutes left in the 3rd quarter but four free throw misses by Handy Fix and a drive by Rex Bayer plus a triple from Joemarie Bayhon restored the lead to 57-47.

PD888 Stanley Tizon delivered pinpoint assists to Arnold Laureño cutting the deficit to 60-55 with 6:41 minutes left. But even with the inside incursions by PD888 Ritche Militante, Province still extend it back to 69-60 behind the exploits of Mark Ramos and Bayhon with 2:51 minutes left.

Bayhon and Ramos spearheaded Province output with 14 and 13 points respectively, Bayer added 8 and Ryan Maningo with 7 points. Handy Fix got contributions from Laureño and Johnson Salazar with 18 and 12 points respectively, while Mamerto Santillan and Ritche Militante added 8 points each.

Red Phoenix went on attacked mode early to overwhelm La Salle with a 25-6 run behind Jerald Abrot and Allan Santander who made 8 points each to seize a 27-14 opening quarter lead.

As La Salle cut the lead to, 32-26 behind Rodgi Gelasan, Abrot would respond with a trey and Nestor Mioten layup got the lead back to 11 points lead. Nico Lopingco took over the offense for La Salle with 8 straight points, but Ariston Sillana answered with 6 points as Red Phoenix took a 52-45 halftime lead.

A combined 5 triples by Sillana, Santander and Abrot highlighted Red Phoenix charges in the 3rd quarter that gave them a 75-63 lead at the end.

In the final canto five quick points by Nikos Cuenca and a Janus Calma trey, immediately cut the lead at 75-71. After Sammy Belangel hit a triple making it a 10 point lead, La Salle pound it inside behind Jobel Abaring and Gelasan to threaten again at 86-80 with 4:54 minutes left. La Salle got a big break when Sillana fouled out in last 4:41 minutes. A Calma layup and Scot Salvacion free throw cut the lead to 3 points. But Belangel’s jumpshot back to 5 points when Abaring two free throw and Cuenca trey tied the game at 88-all with 2:18 minutes left.

Santander’s free throws gave the lead back to Phoenix, but Abaring put in another 4 straight points to give La Salle its first lead since the game at 92-90. Two free throws of Calma and a Ryan Gamboa layup cut the lead to 94-93. Santander’sdrivein the middle netted him a basket plus a foul with 16.7 seconds left. After Cuenca missed his free throw, they attacked the defense and banking in a layup with 9.8 seconds for the marginal basket. Abrot and Mioten missed their attempts as time expired.

Abaring and Calma finished with 16 points apiece, Randy Baydo added 15, Gelasan 13, Lopingco and Cuenca with 11 each, Loi Miraflores 9. Red Phoenix had Santander and Sillana with 21 points apiece, Abrot had 20 and Belangel and Mioten 9 apiece.

CSAB, Province of Neg. Occidental and PD888 Handy Fix are tied atop the standings at 3-1, Globe Asiatique La Salle closed out their elimination round with a 2-3 card, UNO-R is at 1-2 while Red Phoenix though winless in 4 games remains to be a very dangerous team in the knockout stages. In the lone class B action Rico Cabato fired 27 points in the 2nd quarter with 7 treys as BBC routed Nepan Clear, 106-75. Boknoy Poja 12, Carlo De La Torre and Crismar Dayumat with 10 points each, Diomedes Ma-riano contributed 9, and Jay Uy had 8. While Ryan Angayun paced Nepan with 16 points. Games today will be held at NOMPAC with My Spaghetti House against Terra Dolce in the first game and GT Net vs. Foodman in the second game all in Class C.*