Action continues to heat up in the 1st United Negros Basketball League (UNBL) Aspirants Cup 2023, as STI West Negros University turned back University of St. La Salle, 63-58, while Bacolod Tay Tung High School Team A beat St. John Institute, 75-63, during the weekend at the BTTHS covered court.
Both STI-WNU and BTTHS (A) enjoy a clean sheet at 7-0 in their respective bracket.
Maximizing their homecourt advantage, BTTHS relied on the stellar performance of Adrian James Alagaban, who led the team with 28 points, 19 of them in the second half.
Ahron John Cagayao backed him up with 13 points, while Dave Matthew Recodo added 10 markers and Alfredo Ysulan Jr. contributed 7 points.
Santino Miguel Loretizo and Jose Miguel Sy scored three triples each to keep SJI at pace with BTTHS, but the host squad managed to keep the Johnians at bay and secure the win.
Tabby Aldwin Espartero chipped in 11 points for SJI while Roberto Antonio Rojas added 9 markers and Ethan Matthew Ramirez scored 7 points.
In the other game, STI-WNU connected mostly from the 3-point area during the first half for a 37-27 edge, as the La Sallians struggled with their offense.
Cruising at 52-39 at the end of the third quarter, STI-WNU dribblers found themselves in trouble in the final canto as the La Sallians finally had their offense going to cut the lead to a single digit.
USLS outscored STI-WNU, 19-11, in the fourth quarter but time was not on their side as the young Mustangs got away with the win.
Ed Christein Marinduque led STI-WNU with 12 points, Kyle Salgado and Brent Jandy Yanong scored 8 points each, Kyle Francis Bayog shot 6 points.
USLS was paced by John Carl Lamonte with 13 points, Luis Andrei Lirazan added 10, and Reagan Charles Jamero delivered 6 points.
Meanwhile, the Bacolod City National High School secured the third spot in Bracket A with a 5-2 win-loss card after defeating Luisa Medel National High School, 60-55. Even with the loss, LMNHS made the quarterfinals.
Khian Gawan spearheaded BCNHS with 15 points, backstopped by Jeff Soqueño with 9 markers, and Rain Mendoza and John Erik Cagalcal with 7 points each.
Jester Paypa paced LMNHS with 23 points as Alfredo Araneta III added 18 markers.
St. Joseph School-La Salle also clinched third place in Bracket B at 5-2 after defeating LCC-B, 52-37.
University of Negros Occidental landed at No. 4 in Bracket B with a victory against Domingo Lacson National High School.
Tedd Poblacion dropped 19 points to lead SJI Team B over BTTHS Team B.
BTTHS B finished its campaign with a 2-5 card, overwhelming St. Rose of Lima School.
Quarterfinals clash will be on Feb. 24, starting at 5 p.m., with BTTHS A battling LMNHS, while STI-WNU goes up against UNO-R. BTTHS A and STI-WNU will be armed with a twice-to-beat advantage.
At 6:15 p.m., USLS clashes against SJS-LS, and SJI A versus BCNHS in knockout matches.
The winners will advance to the semi-finals on Sunday, starting at 3:30 p.m. ||
