CSAV vs. CSA-B in 2nd UNBL

Colegio de Sta. Ana De Victorias (CSAV) and Colegio De San Agustin Bacolod (CSAB) will meet in the finals of the 2nd United Negros Basketball League (UNBL) Aspirants Basketball Cup at the Willy and Nolita Au Court in Bacolod Tay Tung High School.

CSAV shattered the armour of invincibility of Bracket B top seed St. John’s Institute (SJI) in extra time 81-79, while Bracket A leader CSAB continued with its dominance with a convincing 86-69 victory against Bacolod Tay Tung High School (BTTHS).

SJI Blue Falcons had a hot start taking a 19-7 opening quarter lead but CSAV unleashed a 15-1 run to grab the lead in the 1st quarter 22-20.

Aniceto Docto dropped 11 points built on 3 triples and Kevin Sonido added 5 points, while Ryton Celis paced SJI with 9 points with Lorenzo Joaquin Lacson and Wil Anthony Sy conspiring for 9 points.

SJI regained their composure in the 2nd quarter behind a balance offense with 7 players contributing to move in front at the break 37-33.

CSAV detonated a 16-3 run courtesy of Docto and Sonido in the 3rd canto to move ahead at 49-40.

Gabe Benedict Tan scored 4 of the 6 points for SJI to cut the deficit to 3 points before a trifecta connected by Efren Manday push the CSAV lead to 52-46 going to the 4th quarter.

Lacson unloaded 10 points and Nathaniel Fajardo added 4 to wipe out the teen titans lead and move in front at 60-58 but CSAV was quick to counter with a 9-1 run for a 67-61 lead with 3:14 remaining in the game.

SJI responded with an 8-0 run courtesy of the 2 top of the key triple by Ryton Celis to give the lead to SJI anew with 2 minutes left.

Gabrielle Soberano undergoal stab and a Manday triple put CSAV in front by 3 points but a Sy corner triple forced the overtime at 72- all.

A Manday triple and a Gabrielle Soberano lay up gave CSAV a 77-74 lead, but another triple by Sy and a Lacson lay up changed the lead to the Blue Falcons favor. John Vincent Canillo jumpshot tied the ballgame with 35 second left and after an SJI turnover, Zaijan Sarmiento had an offensive putback with 6.7 left to lock the championship berth for the Teen Titans.

Acster Player of the Game Docto, who did not finish the game due to cramps still led CSAV with 19 points, Manday drilled 15, Soberano fired 14, Sonido and Sarmiento shot 10 points apiece, Canillo and Rhojun Tenacio scored 6 markers each.

Lacson paced SJI with 22 points, Celis added 18, Sy made 16, Fajardo contributed 9 Tan supplied 6, Prince Joel Rasmo produced 5 and Carlos Miguel Reonal with 3 points.

Meanwhile, with 9 players contributing in the 1st quarter CSAB jumpstarted their offense early to post a 34-21 advantage.

Cian Renier Gumacal had 2 triple to lead the balance eagles offensive while teammates John Christopher Matavia and Jerry Binguan III had 5 points apiece.

Paul Adrian Barcelona and Tobby Matthew Orbista combined for 11 points for the Thunderbolts.

With CSAB holding a 38-21 lead, Barcelona fired 7 straight points to cut the deficit to 40-28, but CSAB retaliated with a 13-4 run to extend the lead by halftime at 51-32.

Orbista scored 8 points in the 3rd quarter but CSAB countered with Albert Christian Melgar and Matavia 11 markers combined as the lead ballooned to 74-50 going to the 4th quarter.

Barcelona and Nicus Robert Calma engineered a BTTHS rally in the 4th quarter but time was not on their side as CSAB continued with its dominating run in the tourney with all 6 games won in double digit.

Acster Player of Game Matavia led CSAB with 12 points, Melgar made 11, Khian Gawan knocked down 10, Binguan shot 9, Ace Cortejo dropped 8 and Hans Christian Alcantara and John Dave Parohinog supplied 6 markers apiece.

Barcelona finished with 23 points, Orbista fired 13, Seth Guarino nailed 8, Jameer Angelo Gapusan had 6, Francis Lamasan and Aethan Kyle Pimentel dropped 5 points each.

The 4 teams were playing as of presstime and it will be the 2nd time that these teams will meet as CSAB defeated CSAV 82-65 on opening day while SJI defeated BTTHS 79-75 on the last day of elimination.* (CMG/Stephen Tan)