Prime Asia Lending makes it 3-0 (main title) San Marino Tuna nails first win in Enervon Partner's Cup (subhead)

CEBU, Philippines -  The UV Lancers-manned Prime Asia Lending blasted the Cebu Landmasters-USC Warriors, 91-59, to firm up its grip with an immaculate 3-0 slate in the Enervon CESAFI Partner's Cup 2013 men's basketball tournament last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Underscoring their vast offensive wealth, all 15 players fielded in by Prime Asia coach Felix Belano, Jr. scored led by Cris Perolino with 18 points and reigning CESAFI MVP Wowie Escocio with 17 markers.

Francisco Arong banged in 14 points for Prime Asia, which battered the hapless Cebu Landmasters right after the opening buzzer on the way to mount a huge lead at halftime, 47-29.

The Cebu Landmasters opened the third period with a 7-0 blitz to pull within 11 points, 36-47, but that was the best it could muster as Prime Asia answered with a searing 28-6 run to post an imposing 33-point bulge, 75-42. Their biggest lead, however, stood at 34 points, 90-56, entering the final two-minute mark of the contest. 

USC's Cameroonian recruit Amhed Saliho had 15 points, but it was not enough to prevent the Cebu Landmasters from absorbing its second loss in three starts.

Earlier, Joshua del a Cerna sizzled with 22 points as San Marino Tuna/CIT-U Wildcats slammed Raphael's Cafe/USJ-R,  80-66, for its first win.

It was a timely explosion for De la Cerna as San Marino's veteran cagers Allan Dimco and Vincent Menguito had a sluggish performance combining for only 10 points.

Compounding the woes of Raphael's Cafe was the absence of top pointguard Rendell Senining and small forward Fletcher Galvez, who are now in Dumaguete representing Central Visayas in the Palarong Pambansa. The absence of Senining was so visible as Raphael's  Cafe could not counter the fast transition play of San Marino.

Raphael's Cafe actually led by 11 points in the first period, but its sizzling offensive had gone sour as the game progressed, allowing San Marino to come up with a huge turnaround. At one point in the third period, Floyd Taboada struck hard scoring nine points and Jeffrey Taghoy hit back-to-back triples to start San Marino's scoring spree.

Kevin Cinco was the lone double-digit scorer for Raphael's Cafe with 13 points.

The scores

First game

San Marino Tuna (80) - De la Cerna 22, Taboada 9, Dimco 7, Brigoli 7, Taghoy 6, Ebona 4, Booc 4, Batiquin 4, Tabalin 4, Menguito 3, Graf 3, Infante 3, Pono 2, Bucao 2

Raphael's Cafe (66) - Cinco 13, C. Senining 9, Sanchez 9, Regalado 8, M. Parker 6, C. Parker 4, Lajato 3, Bayhonana 3, Zosa 3, Rosell 2, Diaz 2, Silay 2, R. Senining 2

Second game

Prime Asia (91) - Perolino 18, Escocio 17, Arong 14, Marquez 6, Codilla 6, Oktubre 6, Nzensseu 4, Mendoza 4, Abad 3, Caballero 3, Babia 3, Fajardo 2, Santillan 2, Soliva 2, Arong 1

Cebu Landmasters (59) - Saliho 15, Adlawan 8, pepito 7, Que 6, Guardiario 6, Ortega 6, Romaguerra 3, Seno 2, Ypil 2, Laude 2, Rabat 2--EBV with GGM(FREEMAN)