CEBU, Philippines - The Ed Latonio-led Mandaue Jaycees Team A dealt Rich Media of Richard Mercado its first defeat, 79-65, in the 2009 Jaycees Basketball Association (JBA) season at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.
The Mandaue Jaycees went off to a hot start, 25-12, behind the hot hands of ex-USC Warrior Nestor Patindol and bull-strong center Lord Ong. Patindol finished the game with 23 points.
Rich Media threatened in the fourth period, but Mandaue Jaycees thwarted what would have been an inevitable disgrace.
The Mandaue Jaycees, thus, joined its victim on top of the leaderboard with identical 3-1 win-loss records.
Beboy Potencioso paced Rich Media with 15 points.
Earlier, Zone 360 led by Janjan Boniel escaped with a 78-75 victory over the Mack Mayer Printers of Carlos Porras.
It was only the second win in five games for Zone 360, which was bannered by the tandem of Alcover and Niño Boniel with 31 points combined.
John Sulay and Elmer Laguna posted 14 points each for Mack Mayer.
The scores
First Game:
Zone 360 (78) - Alcover 17, N. Boniel 14, Go 13, Balanguan 10, Borromeo 6, J. Boniel 6, Trespicio 6, Alejandrino 4, Lasala 2
Mack Mayer (75) - Sulay 14, Laguna 14, Baladya 13, Porras 10, Dela Calzada 8, Barreto 7, Polo 7, Monreal 2
Second game
Mandaue-A (79) - Patindol 23, Lerio 12, Ylaya 10, Ong 10, Colina 6, R. Latonio 6, E. Latonio 4, Gamallo 4, Magallano 4
Rich Media (65) - Potencioso 15, David 10, Estella 10, Besanes 9, Que 8, Mercado 6, Flores 4, Lo 2, Sy 1. – GGM (THE FREEMAN)