CSAV beat CSAB in 2nd UNBL Aspirants title

January 31, 2024

**Mythical 5:** (L-R) Anacito Docto III (CSAV), Albert Christian Melgar (CSAB), Jerry Binguan III (CSAB), Paul Adrian Barcelona (BTTHS), and Lorenzo Joaquin Lacson (SJI).*

Colegio De Sta. Ana De Victorias stunned unbeaten Colegio De San Agustin 78-73 to bag the championship of the 2nd United Negros Basketball League Aspirants Basketball Cup last Sunday at the Willy and Nolita Au Court, Bacolod Tay Tung High School.

CSAB was undefeated and won all their games in double digits were favored to repeat against CSAV, but CSAV played with a sense of urgency and took the lead in the opening quarter 20-15.

Edsel Manday and John Vincent Canillo conspired for 9, while Jerry Binguan III delivered 6 points for CSAB.

CSAV sustaining their momentum in the 2nd frame kept CSAB at bay as they answered the challenge by CSAB to stay in front at the break 37-34.

Gabrielle Soberano was a beneficiary of several assist in the low post strung up 8 points and teammate Anacito Docto III added 6 points to counter CSAB balance offense spearheaded by John Christopher Matavia and John Dave Parojinog with 4 markers each.

It was a nip and tuck battle in the 3rd canto as CSAB momentarily took the lead 38-37 on a Binguan layup. Manday connected with a trifecta but CSAB responded with a 6-0 run to post their biggest lead in the game at 44-40. CSAB had their last lead of the game at 48-46 on a Raishem Neil Rojas layup.

Docto connected on back to back triple and Manday added a 3 pointer to give CSAV its biggest lead in the game 64-54 at the end of the 3rdquarter. Manday and Docto combined for 19 points, challenged by Binguan with 9 points backstopped by teammates Matavia and Ace Cortejo adding 4 points apiece.

John Steven Sondia picked up 4 straight points and Parojinog added a basket to cut the deficit to 4 points.

Hans Christian Alcantara bullied his way in the shaded area for 2 baskets and a Matavia layup cut the deficit to 67-66 with 3:30 left in the game.

CSAB could not get over the hump as the shifty Rhojun Tenacio scored timely baskets good for 5 points to give the teen titans some breathing room with 1:15 remaining for a 73-69 advantage.

Binguan layup and a Sondia put back sandwiched a lone free throw by Zaijan Sarmiento drew CSAB closer to 3 points, but. Tenacio sealed the title for CSAV with 2 free throws for the final count.

Finals MVP Docto finished with 20 points, Manday added 15, Tenacio dropped 13, Soberano drilled 12, Kevin Sonido scored 8, Sarmiento hit 5, John Vincent Canillo shot 4 and Rhian Bernales with 1 point.

Binguan paced CSAB with 22 points, Matavia supplied 13; Rojas, Cabanag, Sondia, Parojinog and Alcantara produced 6 markers apiece, Cortejo shot 5 and Albert Christian Melgar made 3 points.

Meanwhile, In the curtain raiser St. John’s Institute triumphed over Bacolod Tay Tung High School 74-50 to capture 2nd Runner Up Honors.

BTTHS could not stop the SJI offensive juggernaut in the first three quarters to fall behind 65-38. The Blue Falcons took advantage of the cold shooting Thunderbolts and scored on several fastbreak breakaways. Moreover, the three-point shooting was also in sync for SJI as Lorenzo Joaquin Lacson and Ryton Celis converted 8 triples between them.

The duo of Lacson and Celis fueled the SJI offense as they delivered 24 and 23 pts. respectively. They were backstopped by Will Anthony Sy with 6 pts. Rhett Tabanao scored 5 points, PJ Rasmo and Nathaniel Fajardo with 4 points apiece.

BTTHS was bannered by Aethan Kyle Pimentel who knocked down 4 triples for 14 points; Paul Adrian Barcelona added 12, Tobby Mathew Orbista contributed 8, Vinz Khrystoff Lapore 6 and Nicus Robert Calma with 5 points.

Named Acster Marketing first team Mythical 5 were Docto, Barcelona, Lacson, Melgar and Binguan. 2nd team headlines Celis, Orbista, Cortejo, Manday and John Joseph Gerardo of Trinity Christian School.* (CMG, Sr./Stephen Tan)