St. John’s Institute foiled the attempted sweep by Talisay Sharks of its bracket with a 96-75 decision in the 15-and-under category of the United Negros Basketball League 2nd Chairman’s Cup games played on Saturday at the Msgr. John Liu Activity Center
Lorenzo Joaquin Lacson and Ryton Celis were the Acster Marketing players of the game as they shone for SJI, with Lacson erupting for 39 points and Celis connecting on 23, 21 of which came in the second half. Gabe Benedict Tan and Tabby Aldwyn Espartero added 10 and 8 points, respectively.
The Talisay Sharks held a 48-38 advantage going into the break, behind 14 points of Tobby Orbista, with Jerry Binguan and Paul Barcelona contributing 6 apiece against Lacson’s 20 markers. However, the dynamic duo of Celis and Lacson waxed hot in the 3rd canto, highlighted by Celis hitting 3 successive triples to record 16 points in the quarter, while Lacson added 9 to shift the advantage towards SJI at 67-60, going to the 4th quarter.
The Talisay offense continued to sputter as the SJI defensive scheme proved effective, and turnovers and missed baskets hounded the Sharks, while the duo of Celis and Lacson inflicted damage at the offensive end, combining for 17 points as teammate Matthias Alfonso Torre added 6 points on offensive putbacks.
Orbista paced Sharks with 22 points, Barcelona – 13, Binguan – 10, John Gerardo and Ace Cortejo – 7 each.
SJI and the Sharks wrapped up their elimination campaign tied at 4-1 in Bracket B, while Team Kenn remains the only undefeated team in the 15-and-Under category, finishing with a clean slate after 5 games played in Bracket A.
Meanwhile, Colegio De San Agustin – Bacolod overpowered Red Owl, 66-31, as Joaquin Labrador paced CSA-B with 12 points, Jhian Treyes – 10, Lance Arrey – 8, and Matthew Garcia – 7, while Jhojun Tenacio and Kert Española conspired to score 19 points for Red Owl.
Francis Lamasan unloaded 21 points to spearhead Bacolod Tay Tung High School against the Bobcats, 81-55. Kyle Pimentel added 11, Jameer Gapusan – 8, and Timothy Julian – 7. On the Bobcats side, they got production from Jhelmer Auquico with 16 points, and Eiro John Jumuad and Nijel Paredes produced 10 apiece.
Meanwhile in the 17-and-under level, Alexander Dingcong exploded for a tournament high 46 points to lead El Tzino / Negros Plastic Mfg. and Mktg. / Trinity to a 70-56 conquest of Red Owl. The victory sealed El Tzino’s 3rd place in Bracket A. Seiji Mariveles added 10 points for Trinity, while Renojay Florendo and Renzo Panergo scored 22 pts and 10 points, respectively, for Red Owl.
CSA-B moved closer to sweeping the elimination round with a 70-47 victory over the Caduhaan National High School Dreamers. Aldwyn Yso bannered a balanced offense with 11 points, Nathaniel Eriman and Brent Magno drilled 9 each, and Vincent Destar, 8 pts. For the CNHS Dreamers, Raven Villafuerte scored 15 and Mark Rainer Britania, 13.
CNHS bounced back in the afternoon, drubbing the 1NegrosJaguas, 70-47. Britania fired 24 points, Villafuerte – 11, Gil Dione Iwayan – 10, and Paul Smith Motin – 8. The troika of Sade Mark Santero (18 points), Earl Biazon (10), and Angelo Miguel Sichon (8), bannered the Jaguars offense.*
