Royal Star Trading leads UNBL 25U cagefest

Team Standings
(as of May 7)
Royal Star Trading,  6-0
Davies Paints Phils.,  5-0
University of St. La Salle – Fyr Fyter,  4-1
Colegio De San Agustin Bacolod/Strived Sportswear,  3-2
JSY Transport,  2-3
JEYDI K Waterproofing,  2-3
Visayan Maritime Academy,  1-4
OBI Knights,  1-5
KDR Perfecto,  0-6

Albert Urbanozo sizzled with 36 points, built on 8 triples, spearheaded an Visayan Maritime Academy (VMA) first victory against OBI Knights 92-78 in the 1st United Negros Basketball League 25 Under Open Tournament last Sunday at Tay Tung High School’s Po Hang Gym in Bacolod City.

VMA was in front at the break 38-37 as Urbanozo dropped 14points, while Jeric Magada and John Paul Amante scored 6 points apiece while Adrian Alagaban delivered 17 points and teammate Danilo Aplasca shot 5 points for OBI Knights.

In the 3rd quarter It was a nip and tuck battle until Urbanozo caught fire stringing up 3 straight triples to extend the lead to 66-58. Urbanozo continued with his stellar play in the payoff quarter as he added 11 points supported by the 7 points of Jeric Magada to secure their 1st win.

Magada shot 15 points, Amante produced 9 and Kert Roland Sanchez tallied 6 points. Equally impressive was the production of incoming Grade 10 student Adrian Alagaban connecting on 7 triples to finish with 31 points he was backstopped by Edgar Calpes 14; Aplasca 10 and John Andrey Solivio with 7 markers.

Royal Star Trading assume solo leadership in the tourney with a victory over JEYDI K Waterproofing 56-51.

JEYDI K surprised RST as they kept within striking distance throughout the game and even tied the game at 51-all with a minute left, but timely hits by Saldy Macabato and a 3 pt. play by Justin Jay Ragay bailed out RST to keep their unbeaten streak in 6 games. Macabato unloaded 16 points; Ragay added 12 and Rafael Catalonia scored 7; Arkel Santero supplied JEYDI K with 12, Axcel Fernandez submitted 10, Joshua Abkilan dropped 8 and Sean Sesaldo with 5 points.

Colegio De San Agustin Bacolod/ Strived Sportswear registered its 3rd straight victory by outlasting JSY Transport. 86-81.

Mycco Deposoy started out aggressively in the 1st quarter registering 33 points play to take an early 8- point lead for CSAB, but a response from JSY Transport behind its balance offense put them on top at end of the 1st quarter at 26-25.

It remained to be a neck- to- neck battle going to the 4th quarter as JSY Transport kept a slim lead at 57-56 as Jaypee Gabriel, Bonifacio Balontong III and Jan Marmito scored 9 points apiece while Deposoy continue to soar for Strived Sportswear with 15 point and Jemar Cepriano adding 8 points.

In the payoff quarter CSA-B had some breathing room in the homestretch as Kenneth Malazarte layup and AJ Ondon triple established a 77-70 lead with 1:10 left in the game. Back to back triple by JSY Transport was not enough to overtake CSAB as Malazarte and Cepriano held the fort for Strived by going 2 of 2 from the free throw line.

Deposoy unloaded 27 points, Malazarte and Cepriano submitted 16; Rowel Negro shot 12 and Ondon contributed 9 points.

Balontong finished with 15 points; Marmito with 13; Jaypee Gabriel shot 13, Elmer Orano nailed 12 points. and Raymund Umayao with 9 markers.

University of St. La Salle/Fyr-Fyter got back on the winning track as it dominated KDR Perfecto 80-45 to improve to 4-1.

Josh Luciano paced USLS with 20 points; Andrie Dubouzet added 14; Riggy Alinsoring uncorked 11; Bonn Ernest Daja scored 8, Martin jay Beatingo and Lenz Catalan with 5 points apiece. KDR Perfecto got its output from Louie Jay Villarosa with 13 points; Amaro shot 6 and Sweet Nemenzo with 7 points.* (Cyrus M. Garde)