College of Saint Benilde and San Beda University opened their Sportsclick AsiaBasket International Championship 2023 campaigns with routs, Tuesday at MABA Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Blazers whipped Sanzar Pharmaceuticals, 93-80, while the Red Lions scored a 105-82 blowout win against the BGC Builders.
CSB pulled away from Sanzar within the last nine minutes of the first quarter even as the collegiate squad eventually opened a lead as high as 25 points, 69-44, midway through the third quarter.
Sanzar was able to trim the lead down in the fourth period, but that was when the outcome had already been settled.
Miggy Corteza led CSB with 16 points, two rebounds, and two assists, while Alaine Cajucom added 14 points, seven rebounds, and one assist of the game.
Prince Carlos tallied 13 points, three rebounds, three assists, and one steal, while Migs Oczon had 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists as a substitute.
After erupting for 33 points on Sunday night against Shawarma Shack Pilipinas, Shaq Alanes cooled down a bit as he was held to 4-of-15 field goals, although he still led Sanzar, now down to 0-2 in Group A, in scoring with 20 points behind 12-of-14 free throws.
Jeremiah Taladua had a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds with three assists and one steal, while Angelo Obuyes also made 16 markers with eight boards, two dimes, and one interception.
(C) FILBASKET
On the other hand, the Machateam-backed Red Lions turned things around in the second half as BGC’s Tosh Sessay and Mark Doligon could not sustain their brilliance in the first half.
Behind Sesay’s monstrous performance in the first 20 minutes and with ample help from Doligon in the second quarter, the Builders kept in step with the Red Lions’ run-and-gun game as both teams entered halftime tied at 46-all.
San Beda-Machateam, however, sizzled in the second half, outscoring BGC, 59-36, to pul away for good.
Gab Cometa led the Red Lions with 21 points, one rebound, two assists, and one steal off the bench while Jacob Cortez added 19 points, three rebounds, four assists, and five steals.
Clifford Jopia contributed 12 points, four rebounds, and one block, while Peter Alfaro went for 11 points, three rebounds, and two assists.
Sessay led the Builders with 23 points, going 10-for-13 from the field, 16 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block.
Doligon put up 17 points and one rebound, while Christian Buñag had 14 markers on 6-of-7 from the field, nine boards, one block, and one steal.
In other games, Harimau Malaysia crushed MFT Fruitmasters, 115-66, while MBC Kirin edged Kuala Lumpur, 85-83.
Wong Yi Hou led the Nationals with 31 points on 12-of-18 shooting, four rebounds, and four steals.
Heng Yee Tong added 16 points, one rebound, two assists, and one steal, while Kuek Tian Yuan had 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Francis Abarcar made 16 points, three rebounds, and one assist, while Marlon Monte chipped in 12 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals for the Fruitmasters.
William Vedder Freeman led MBC, now 2-0 in Group B standings, with 27 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and one steal, while Wutipong Dasom added 15 points, four rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
Tychique Bosango led MBC’s bench mob with 11 markers, seven boards, two dimes, one steal, and one block.
Jalen Robinson made 29 points, 21 rebounds, five assists, and three steals, while Joshua Gan added 14 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals for KL.
