Luisa Medal National High School (LMNHS) scored back to back victories last Sunday in the 1st United Negros Basketball League 2023 at the Bacolod Tay Tung High School covered Court.
LMNHS held off a comeback rally by Tay Tung High School (TTHS) Team B, to win the game, 37-36. LMNHS led at the break 25-16 courtesy of the balanced offense by Jester Paypa, Areño and Micko John Villarosa Eras, scoring 6 points each. The LMNHS offense sputtered in the 2nd half as they only scored 12 pts., TTHS Team B pounced on the opportunity, almost succeeding, but falling short as the defense of LMNHS held on for the win. Paypa and Villarosa each delivered 10 points, while Miel Billones had 8 and Shane, Julian 7 for BTTHS Team B.
Later in the afternoon, LMNHS rallied from a double digit deficit to stun St. John’s Institute B 72-71. It was a sorry loss for SJI Team B, as they were comfortably ahead by double digits with less than 4 minutes remaining. However, a trio of triples by LMNHS, coupled by SJI Team B turnovers and free throw misses, allowed LMHS to take a 3-point lead with 46 seconds left on the clock. SJI Team B was able to muster 2-4 free throws, but the rally fell short as they committed a turnover with 4 seconds left to hand LMNHS its 2nd win in 3 starts.
LMNHS, mentored by Yan Yan Yasa, was led by Paypa with 25 points, backstopped by Zelrey Lamela with 10 and Villarosa with 8. Jacob Gabriel Javelosa finished with 17 markers and Tedd Christian Poblacion had 16 for SJI Team B.
Meanwhile, Bacolod Tay Tung High School Team A kept pace with St. John’s Institute Team A to top Bracket B at 3-0, with victories against University of Negros Recoletos and Bata National High School.
University of St. La Salle foiled the challenge of Bacolod City National High School 57-48 to improve to 3-0 in Bracket A. USLS led at the half 27-25 behind a balanced offense led by John Carl Lamonte and Leou Jamiel Leonero, while Cyril Gil Salumag scored 11 points for BCNHS.
The game continued to remain close with USLS keeping the lead, but a 7-O end of quarter run pushed the lead to double digits, 47-36, as Luis Andre Lirazan and John Troy Newman combined for 13 points. BCNHS outscored USLS in the 4th quarter but it was not enough to take the lead as they only managed to cut the deficit to 6. It was the 3rd victory of USLS in as many starts.
Coach Leny Rose Pillo won in the battle of spouses leading Bata National High School over her husband Coach Phoenix Wilart Pillo of Domingo National High School 58-47.
In other games, STI West Negros University improved their record to 2-0 with an emphatic victory over St. John’s Institute Team B. LCC got its first win at expense of Trinity Christian School (TCS) 46-33 while Colegio de San Agustin Bacolod also barged into the win column against St. Rose of Lima School.*
