University of St. La Salle and Team Kenn are a win away from sweeping their respective brackets in the United Negros Basketball League 2nd Chairman’s Cup games played on Sunday at the Msgr. John Liu Activity Center
In a battle of unbeaten teams, USLS survived Bacolod Tay Tung High School, 68-64. It was a nip and tuck battle from start to finish with BTTHS holding a slim 38-37 lead at the break, with Joaquim Chuatico connecting for 11 points, and Ronn Bedonia tallying 8, while Emmanuel Salvio and Rojie Enderes combined for 16 points. USLS wrested the lead, 58-57, going to the 4th quarter. Both teams then put a premium on defense in the final quarter, with USLS scoring just 10 points, but the BTTHS offense also sputtered, with Justine Jalea scoring all of the final 7 points for BTTHS.
Acster Mktg. player of the game Enderes led a balanced USLS offense with 12 points, Josiah Asis and Salvio added 11 apiece, and Robert Guinanao – 8. Jalea paced the Thunderbolts with 17 points, Chuatico – 13, Aeron Cagayao – 11, Bedonia – 9, and Adrian Alagaban – 8.
Notre Dame assured their second place slot in Bracket A with a victory over El Tzino / Trinity, 71-64. Notre Dame led at the half 47-35, but El Tzino rallied to cut the deficit to 55-54 at the end of the 3rd quarter. However, Notre Dame recovered in time to frustrate the challenge of El Tzino during the payoff quarter. Andrei Gallego scored 20 points for Notre Dame, with support coming from Mark Discartin – 15 and John Canillo – 9. Trinity was bannered by Alexander Dingcong with 15 points, Kenan Abella – 12, Nasser Deguera – 10, and Josef Adrian Pineda – 7.
Notre Dame also took care of business in the afternoon game as it outplayed Red Owl, 85-65. Glen Hipanao scored 23 points for Notre Dame, Joey Madrid – 15, Gallego – 13, Descartin – 9. The Red Owl offense was spearheaded by Renojay Florendo with 23 points, John Ordas produced – 14, and Renzo Panergo – 9.
Caduhada National High School Dreamers drubbed Team Spartan 74-48, where Raven Villafuerte delivered 24 markers, Mark Rainer Britania produced 13, while the trio of Zean Juanico, Paul Smith Motin, and John Mark Asis manufactured 6 points apiece. Christian Alisen and Jeremy Callora tallied 11 points each and Louise Gomez shot 8 points for Team Spartan.
Jaguars La Carlota notched its 1st victory at the expense of Shockwave, 74-61. Remar Mendoza paced all scorers with 22 points, backstopped by Shem Robles -9, Marionair Gonzales and Karl Cabuguason – 8 apiece, and John Nanoble – 7.
Meanwhile in the 15-and-under category Raffy Canatoy scattered 31 points to lead St. Joseph School-La Salle Lineage to a 74-68 conquest of the Bobcats. Andrey Castro added 12, Howard Gonzales – 10, Khenz John Saligumba – 11. Jhelmer Auquico led Bobcats with 15, Gabrielle Soberano – 14, Eiro John Jumuad – 9, Jacob Bañas and Alexander Lamprea – 8 apiece.
USLS defeated Megalodon 81-65 as John Paul Cabayao scored 15 points, Gian Alexix Vasquez added 10 and the troika of Leou Jaemiel Leonero, John Carl Lamonte, and Reagan Charles Jamero tallied 8 markers each, and Timothy John Poblador – 7 points, while Megalodon relied on Aejay Aurelio’s 20 points, with Kian Gargarita and Bathan having 8 points each.
Yajirobi Kosaka scored 14 as he led 5 others with double digit scores as Team Kenn registered an emphatic victory over Red Owl 105-38. The victory assured Team Kenn the top spot in Bracket A. Zaijan Sarmiento fired 14 points, John Matavia and Efren Manday Jr. joined hands for 12 points each, Anacito Docto and Nick Alcocesar also submitted 10 apiece, and Brent Serra had 8. Jhojun Tenacio was the lone double digit scorer for Red Owl with 10 pts.
Colegio De San Agustin Bacolod nailed the number two spot in Bracket A as it pounded 1Negros Jaguars 94-37. CSAB was led by Lance Arrey’s 14 points, Jhian Treyes and Reyland Jimena had 10 apiece, Amiel Rojas – 9, Saffron Rasmo and Cian Gumacal – 8 each. John Benedick Falcis and John Anthony Posadas scored 13 and 8 points, respectively, for the Jaguars.
Sixteen games will still be played at the close of the elimination round this weekend. The Top 4 teams in each bracket will advance to the crossover knockout quarterfinals to be played on August 13.
Toyota Negros Occidental is the partner of UNBL for the 2nd Chairman’s Cup.*
