STI-WNU, SJI lead respective brackets in UNBL

• Bracket A Standings as of February 12, 2023
STI-WNU and USLS 5-0, LMNHS 3-2, BCNHS 2-2, SJI Team B 2-3, BTTHS Team B 1-3, CSA-B 1-4, STROLS 0-5
• Bracket B Standings
SJI Team A and BTTHS Team A 5-0, UNO-R 3-2, SJS-LS 2-2, BNHS 2-4, LCC-B 2-4, TCS 1-4, DLNHS 0-4

STI West Negros University (WNU) nailed back-to-back wins last Sunday to share the top spot with University of St. La Salle in Bracket A of the 1st United Negros Basketball League (UNBL) Aspirants Basketball Cup 2023 at the Tay Tung High School (TTHS) Covered Court.

The Jack Tumayan mentored STI-WNU improved to 5-0 dominated Luisa Medel National High School in the morning, but had some anxious moment before disposing of Bacolod City National High School (BCNHS), 62-56, in the afternoon.

STIWNU had an early double digit lead but BCNHS surprised STI-WNU and took a 26-24 lead midway in the 2nd quarter, but STI-WNU responded and slowly established their double digit lead in majority of the 2nd half before holding off the BCNHS challenge in the last 2 minutes of the game.

Ed Christein Marinduque led STI-WNU with 12 point, Jovel Thomas Gonzales added 11, Kyle Matthew Barrieta scored 10 and Kyle Francis Bayog had 9 points.

BCNHS coached by Bam Oquindo was led by John Erik Pallan Cagalcal with 13 points, Cyril Salumag made 11 markers and Chryster Priolo with 7 points.

Rafael Alfonso Rondez scored 14 points and Leandro Emil Calibjo with 13 points, spearheaded St. John’s Institute (SJI) Team B triumphed over St. Rose of Lima School (STROLS).

SJI Team B also got production from Tedd Christian Poblacion with 10 points. Zachary Aerone shot Yap 8 points and Simon Miguel Limsiaco with 6 points. Kid Anthony Alit and Ion Clifford Cuadra contributed 8 and 6 points respectively for STROLS.

Jameer Angelo Gapusan and Raishem Neil Rojas conspired with 10 and 6 pts. respectively in the 4th quarter to turn a 46-38 deficit to a 59-56 victory for St. Joseph School-La Salle (SJS-LS) over Bata National High School (BNHS).

Gapusan finished 18 markers, backstopped by Raishem Neil Rojas.

With 10 points, Rojas scored 9 points for the SJS-LS team handled by Alvin Mahilum. BNHS got their output from Kevin James Sonido 18 and Juan Nestor Pehid 10 points.

BNHS coached by Leny Rose Pillo vented its ire on La Consolacion College-Bacolod (LCC-B) in the afternoon as Sonido dropped 30 points, while Joven Jamero, Jr. firing 19 of his 21 points in the 2nd half and Pehid added 8.

Christian Ray Aniban was the lone double digit scorer for LCC-B with 13 points, Paul Henry Peñaflorida Made 8 and Dan louelle Salado with 7 points.

University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R) outplayed Trinity Christian School (TCS) 53-39 for its 3rd win in 5 games to gain solo third in bracket B. Matthew Depamaylo led a balance UNO-R offense with 9 points, Reigner Torres and Lorenzo Castro added 8 apiece.

Andrei Lance Mallen drilled 23 points and Enrico Miguel Dasal Made 7 points for TCS.

Prince Rasmo sizzled with 28 pts. to lead TTHS Team B for its first victory against Colegio De San Agustin-Bacolod (CSA-B).

Teammates Shane Julian scored 15 and Andrew Hucalinas shot 11 points, CSA-B was led by Rodge Cuadra with 9 and Lance Arrey 8 points.* (Cyrus M. Garde)