Ateneo de Manila University completed a four-game sweep of the 2023 Bola TV AsiaBasket Las Piñas Championship’s Group A after defeating the University of Perpetual Help DALTA, 88-80, on Monday at the Villar Coliseum in Las Piñas City.
Kai Ballungay was once again the man of the hour for the Blue Eagles, scoring 19 points and grabbing eight rebounds as the top team in Group A improved to 4-0 in the league standings.
Ateneo led by as much as 22 points and never gave Perpetual a chance to take the lead in the wire-to-wire victory.
Joe Obasa and Mason Amos contributed 13 points each, while Ian Espinosa added 10 to help the Blue Eagles secure the victory.
Cyrus Nitura scored 24 points to lead the scoring for the Altas, who fell to 1-2, tying Corsa Tires at third to fourth in the Group.
Jielo Razon contributed 14 points, while Christian Pagaran registered 13 points and eight rebounds.
On the other end, Uratex demolished the College of St. Benilde, 97-93, rising to solo second in Group A.
Mike Nzeusseu exploded for a near-double-double with 29 points and nine rebounds to lead the Sleep Specialists to their second win in the tournament.
Joining him in a double-double-shy performance was Ola Adeogun, who posted 19 markers and nine boards on a perfect 6-of-6 shooting clip.
Bam Gamalinda and Eric Salamat both added 12 points, while Genmar Bragais chipped in 11 markers and five boards.
Will Gozum led the offense for the winless Blazers with 19 points, and Miggy Corteza contributed 17.
Known for his three-point shooting, Migs Oczon went ice cold in CSB’s loss, missing all five of his total attempts from beyond the arc and only scoring three points.
The Blazers will figure in a do-or-die game against Perpetual on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, San Beda University secured its first win of the tournament after beating the Pilipinas Aguilas, 93-88, in Group B action.
Red Lions’ key scorer, RC Calimag, bounced back from an off-night in the previous game, delivering an all-around performance of 26 points, five rebounds, and five assists in 24 minutes to lead San Beda.
His brother, Richi, also solidified the Calimag brothers’ presence on the court, tallying a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, while Bryan Sajonia was a rebound shy of joining Calimag’s numbers with 15 markers and nine boards.
Former Red Lion Eugene Toba put up a huge double-double for the Aguilas with 18 points and 18 rebounds in the Aguilas’ loss.
Biboy Enguio led the scoring for the Aguilas with 21 points, while Edrian Ramirez chipped in 18 markers.
Adeshokan Odou and Ian Torres also joined the double-double showdown of yesterday’s quadruple-header, dropping 23 points and 11 rebounds, and 18 markers and 11 assists, respectively, as Sanzar Pharmaceuticals stunned Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 82-80.
Yuki Kawamura added 17 points and four steals for the Fire Tigers.
Kurt Reyson scored 24 points to lead the Letran offense but it was not enough to secure the win in the nail-biter.
Pao Javillonar also made his name in the list of double-double performers yesterday with 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Knights.
Sanzar and Letran are now tied at second with 2-1 records, while San Beda sits at fourth.
The top four teams in each pool will advance to the knockout crossover playoffs. (Jose Gabriel Ignacio)
The Scores:
First Game
San Beda 93 – RC Calimag 26, Sajonia 15, Ri. Calimag 13, Peregrina 12, Lina 9, Dimaculangan 5, Songcuya 4, Tolentino 4, Alloso 3, Etulle 2, Lopez 0, Mundas 0, Teruel 0, Lecciones 0, Mina 0
Pilipinas Aguilas 88 – Enguio 21, Toba 18, Ramirez 18, Aviso 8, Bederi 5, Caldozo 5, Daez 4, Arciaga 4, G. Elorde 3, Labarda 2, A. Elorde 0, Bessala 0, Mahilum 0
Quarterscores: 27-14, 47-39, 73-66, 93-88
Second Game
Sanzar 82 – Odou 23, Torres 18, Kawamura 17, Kone 9, Ondoa 7, Famaranco 5, Calapine 3, L. Lanzar 0, Jolangcob 0, Villapando 0, Abaoag 0, Obuyes 0, Mailim 0
Letran 80 – Reyson 24, Javillonar 18, Monje 10, Santos 8, Tolentino 7, Go 5, Guarino 2, Fajardo 2, Bautista 2, Nunag 2, Galvez 0, Jumao-As 0, Morales 0
Quarterscores: 20-26, 45-48, 60-70, 82-80
Third Game
Uratex 97 – Nzeusseu 29, Adeogun 19, Salamat 12, Gamalinda 12, Bragais 11, Gotladera 8, Pardo 3, Arboleda 2, Vidal 1, Gil 0, Rosagas 0, Mercado, Buyco 0
CSB 93 – Gozum 19, Corteza 17, Carlos 12, Nayve 10, Sangco 10, Cajucom 5, Turco 4, Oczon 3, Jalalon 2, Morales 2, Flores 0, Marasigan 0, Marcos 0, Serrano 0
Quarterscores: 29-27, 43-51, 72-73, 97-93
Fourth Game
Ateneo 88 – Ballungay 19, Obasa 13, Amos 13, Espinosa 10, Tuano 8, Quitevis 8, Chiu 6, Garcia 4, Gamber 3, Credo 3, Nieto 1, Koon 0, Celis 0
Perpetual Help 80 – Nitura 24, Razon 14, Pagaran 13, Omega 8, Boral 5, Roque 4, Abis 4, Barcuma 4, Sevilla 2, Gelsano 2, Ramirez 0, Nunez 0, Mascarinas 0
Quarterscores: 30-16, 52-36, 76-63, 88-80
