Mandaluyong Namayan whipped New Era University 87-72 last Sunday to launch its bid on a high note as the Manila Bankers Life-Pilipinas Super League Under-18 Luzon and NCR Leg got going at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
Joseph Catome wound up with 26 points and four assists for the Tigre, while James Corpuz added 22 points, five rebounds, and two assists.
Angel Ortilla barely missed a double-double with nine points and 15 rebounds as Mandaluyong Namayan used a telling fourth-quarter assault to surge ahead from a 63-62 count after three quarters.
The Tigre held a 42-32 lead at halftime.
Ricardo Aganon tallied 32 points and nine rebounds for the Hunters, but no other NEU player scored in double-digits.
In other games, Taytay held off Fin&Claw 72-70, while Calamba proved too strong for LDG San Pedro 100-62.
Over at the Cebu City Sports Institute in the Visayas Leg, the Consolacion Sarok Weavers bludgeoned Sidlak Danao 115-63 for their third straight win.
Jedric Daa carried the Sarok Weavers with a game-high 28 points that he laced with eight rebounds, while Far Eastern University-Diliman standout Kirby Mongcopa went one assist shy of a triple-double with 24 points, 17 rebounds, and nine assists.
EJ Herbito also had 14 points and 10 rebounds as the Sarok Weavers rose to 3-0 in the meet co-presented by SCD and Dumper party-list and supported by J Project Clothings, MDC, Bluesky Advertising, NET 25, Wcube Solutions Inc., Hotel SOGO, and Converge, with former PBA player and coach Leo Isaac serving as Commissioner.
Sidlak Danao fell to 0-2. Sherilin Khalifa City of Naga dismantled the Consolacion Black Shama 90-64 for its second victory in a row and handed its foes their first loss of the tourney.
Paolo Gera paced Sidlak Danao with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Earl Aguilar and Marcel Batucan got 10 each.
