The University of St. La Salle and Acster Marketing were crowned champions of their respective categories in the United Negros Basketball League 3rd Chairman’s Cup Negros, which was held in cooperation with Toyota Negros Occidental, after the finals held Sunday at the Willy and Nolita Au Court, Bacolod Tay Tung High School.
The USLS Stingers subdued Colegio San Agustin Bacolod Eagles, 77-56, in the 21 and under category, while Paul Adrian Barcelona sizzled for 34 points to lead Acster Marketing past New Energy Marketing/Raak Transport with a final score of 86 -81 in the 17 and under category.
Acster led at the half 47-42, buoyed by the offense of Daniel Marc Sigaya and Barcelona, who delivered 15 and 14 points, respectively, as Raak countered with Vince Maro’s 10 points, Ace Cortejo’s 9, and Brent Yanong’s 8. The 3rd quarter was a slugfest, as New Energy came out firing at the start to take a 49-47 lead behind Yanong, who tallied 12 markers in the quarter, but Barcelona was unstoppable, knocking in 13 points as the game was back to square at 67-all going to the fourth quarter. Jerry Binguan III scored 11 of the Raak 14 points in the payoff quarter, but it was not enough as Barcelona remained hot, chipping in 7 points, supported by timely baskets from teammates Tobby Matthew Orbista and Alfred Ysulan, who added 4 apiece to seal the championship for Acster. For Acster Mktg., Sigaya finished with 18 points, Ysulan – 10, Jeric Santisteban – 8. Brent Yanong paced New Energy Mktg with 23 points, Binguan – 20, Ace Cortejo – 12, Maro – 10, while Ceasar Bigcas and Nathaniel Eriman contributed 7 apiece.
In the battle of unbeaten teams in the 21 and under category, USLS surprised CSAB, outscoring them in the first 3 quarters. USLS held a 19-15 opening quarter lead as Joshua Benedict Baldonado led the stingers with 8 markers. In the second quarter, 8 players contributed to the Stingers’ effort, led by Mark Jun Dela Cruz with 7 points. USLS extended the lead at the break, 46-27.
CSAB failed to make much headway in the third quarter, as the Stingers continued to build their lead, ending the quarter, 63-42. However, John Laurene Tuble, John Mycco Deposoy, and Fritz Suclan joined hands in the fourth quarter, as they engineered a 13-2 run to cut the deficit to 65-55, but with 4:25 left in the game, a timely triple by USLS’ Jims Vincent Jimiera, resulting from a broken play, put a damper on the promising CSAB rally, which then fell into an offensive rut as they only scored 1 point for the remainder of the championship game.
Joshua Benedict Baldonado and Mark Jun Dela Cruz scored 17 points, Jan Aeryc Lanz Catalan – 12, Jims Vincent Jimiera – 10, and RJ Villanueva – 7.
Strived was led by John Mycco Deposoy with 14 points, Fritz Suclan and John Laurene Tuble supplied 9 each, and Saldy Macabato had 8.
Second Team Mythical 5 of the 21 under category was composed of Deposoy and Rowel Negro of CSAB Strived, Martin Jay Beatingo of USLS, Winiefredo Daboy Fernandez of STIWNU AS Group Bleachers and Robert John Matti of VMA Undrafted.
First Team Mythical 5 Members were bannered by MVP Marc June De La Cruz, Bruce Aure and Ranier Karl Estrada of CSAB Strived , Gino De La Puerta of JJP UNO-R, and Denmark Sigaya of STIWNU AS Group Bleachers.
Meanwhile in the 17 and under category, members of the 2nd team were Paul Adrian Barcelona, Anacito Docto III of Acster Marketing, Ceasar Bigcas and Brent Yanong of Raak Transport, and John Paul Cabayao of USLS.
The first team Mythical 5 is composed of MVP Kyle Matthew Barrieta, Tobby Matthew Orbista and Daniel Marc Sigaya of Acster Mktg., Jerry Binguan III and Ace Cortejo of New Energy Marketing.*
