UNBL Update: SJI overcomes BTTHS in 2nd UNBL Bracket B

In a battle of unbeaten teams, St. John’s Institute (SJI) secured the top seed in Bracket B, overcoming the challenge of Bacolod Tay Tung High School (BTTHS), 79-75 in the 2nd United Negros Basketball League (UNBL) Aspirants Basketball Cup at the Msgr. John Liu Activity Center, SJI, Bacolod City.

SJI led in the 1st quarter behind its 3 points shooting as Ryton Celis and Rhett Gabrielle Tabanao conspired for 4 straight triples to establish a 22-12 opening quarter lead. Lorenzo Joaquin Lacson dropped 7 points for SJI.

A momentum shifted due to the early foul trouble on Lacson and Will Anthony Sy with 3 fouls apiece led to a BTTHS rally as they engaged in several lead exchanges in the 2nd quarter as SJI remained on top 39-37 at the break with Lacson adding 7 points while Jameer Angelo Gapusan and Paul Adrian Barcelona scored 6 and 5 points respectively in the quarter.

Lacson continued to shine in the 3rd canto with 12 points backstopped by Ryton Celis and Sy with 5 apiece to extend the lead anew to 65-57 even as Barcelona fired 8 and teammate Tobby Matthew Orbista adding 6 points.
With 1:20 left in the payoff quarter, SJI was hanging to a 76-70 lead, but BTTHS Francis Lamasan connected on a corner jumper and Barcelona made his 1st triple to cut the deficit to a point with 45 seconds left.

Celis offensive putback brought the lead back to 3 points and he also made a crucial defensive play as he stole the inbound pass in the ensuing play. SJI Nathaniel Fajardo made a free throw to ice the game and seal the top seed in Group B.

Lacson sizzled with 34 points, Celis added 15, Sy and Carlos Miguel Reonal pumped in 8 markers each and Tabanao shot 6 points.

Barcelona fired 27 points, backstopped by Orbista with 14 point, Gapusan scored 12, Francis Lamasan, Aethan Kyle Pimentel and Vinz Khrystoff Lapore with 5 points apiece.

Colegio De Sta. Ana De Victorias (CSAV) secured the 2nd spot in Group A with a resounding 76-56 victory over University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R).

UNO-R held CSAV to a 30 all halftime score led by George Jeric Agnes and Jayven Pachoro 6 points apiece while CSAV Efren Manday scored 12 and Kevin James Sonido had 6 points.

CSAV outscored UNO-R in the 3rd canto, 25-8 led by Kevin James Sonido with 9 points Thirdy Docto added 7 and Brent Gian Serra with 5 points.

Manday led CSAV with 16 point, Sonido dropped 15, Docto produced 12, Rhojun Tenacio delivered 8 and Yajirobi Kosaka with 7 points.

Matthew Benedict Depamaylo paced UNO-R 9 points, Pachoro added 8, Rodolfo Recaido scored 7 and Agnes with 6 markers.

Colegio De San Agustin-Bacolod (CSA-B) closed out the elimination round on top of Group A streaking to its 5th win against Trinity Christian School (TCS), 62-32.

TCS surprised CSA-B as they led in the 1st quarter 16-12, but CSA-B tightened their defense in the next 3 quarters to limit TCS to 16 points.

CSA-B was spearheaded by Jerry Binguan III scoring 10 points, Ace Cortejo tallied 9 and Albert Christian Melgar finished with 8 pints.

John Joseph Gerado led TCS with 8 points and Klyde Dominic Malaga had 7 points.

Bacolod City National High School (BCNHS) barged into the win column by holding off La Consolacion College-Bacolod (LCC-B), 55-51.

BCNHS was led by Mendoza with 17 points, John Cagalcal scored 14 and Andrei Tornilla hit 6 points.

LCC-B got their production from Christian Aniban with 21 points and Paul Henry Peniflorida drilled 13 points.

University of St. La Salle (USLS) secured the last quarterfinals slot in Bracket B with an impressive victory against Bata National High School (BNHS), 64-38.

John Carl Lamonte tallied 10 points for USLS, Reagan Charles Jamero added 9, Cliff Shin Palma made 7, John Troy Neman and John Paul Cabayao put up 6 points apiece.

Joven Jamero paced BNHS with 15 points and Jomar Jadulos shot 8 points.

St. Joseph School-La Salle (SJS-LS) ended its elimination campaign on a winning note as they cruised past Alangilan National High School (ANHS), 67-50.

Andrey Antonio Castro led SJS-LS with 12 points, Sean Amahan delivered 11, Luiz Andrei Lirazan hit 9 and John Del Satinigan with 6 points.

ANHS was bannered by Neljohn Veloso dropping 10 points, Kyle Jason Padpad nailed 9, Nesh Angelo Palma shot 7 and John Erwin Serie supplied 6 points.

A pair of knockout quarterfinals matches is being played as of press time with BTTHS going up against TCS while CSAV tangles with USLS. CSAB and SJI by virtue of their top seeds get a bye in the first round and await the quarterfinals winners.* (Cyrus M. Garde, Sr./Stephen Tan)