SMC cagers drub UCPB five; STAR, ABS-CBN teams prevail

Samboy Lim played like the Samboy Lim of old in his debut in the Philippine Star Friendship League, scoring 31 points to lead San Miguel Corp. to a second straight win with a 70-63 drubbing of UCPB yesterday at the Meralco gym.

Host Philippine Star stayed on equal footing with SMC following an 89-73 rout of RCBC while two-time BIBATO champion ABS-CBN joined the win-column with a 65-57 victory over RFM Corp.

Lim got off to a jackrabbit start, firing 18 points in the first quarter, and the SMC squad sizzled with the Skywalker all-day long as it easily made it two in a row in the six-team tournament despite the absence of another ace player Allan Caidic.

In the absence of Caidic, who exploded for 34 points in their 76-59 demolition of RFM in the league inaugurals, Lim drew support from fellow former pros Art dela Cruz and Siot Tanquincen who chipped in 16 and 10 points, respectively. Hector Calma contributed five points.

The Star, managed by Kevin Belmonte and supported by Adidas, played a balanced game as it also scored a second straight win following an 80-61 whipping of ABS-CBN in the league opener.

Six Starmen, led by Jon de Guzman with 21, hit in double-figures. Old mainstay Joey Viduya rifled in four triples and finished with 16 while Arnel Ferrer added 14, Alfred Bartolone 12, and Rene Recto and Noel Cabales 10 each. – Joey Villar