LS-Zobel streaks to fifth consecutive win

MANILA, Philippines - La Salle-Zobel bucked an erratic game and kept its composure down the stretch to repulse Far Eastern U, 63-60, in a duel of unbeaten teams for its fifth straight victory in the UAAP Season 74 juniors basketball at the Blue Eagle gym last Saturday.

Gabriel Reyes fired 17 points while Renzo Subido knocked down 11 points, going six-of-six from the charity lane while pulling down seven rebounds against a tall FEU side and finishing with three assists and one steal.

Kristiane Velhagen backed up Reyes and Subido with 10 points and six rebounds while Alexander Torres grabbed nine rebounds for the Junior Archers who moved two games away from sweeping the first round elims.

The Alabang-based squad built a 13-point in the third period but faltered with a series of turnovers, enabling the Junior Tams to close within three at the onset of the fourth. La Salle-Zobel, which routed UPIS, 102-48, last Tuesday, made 29 turnovers, majority of them converted by FEU to keep the game close in the fourth.

Jose Domingo and Joshua Aguilon each had 12 points and Jerie Pingoy had eight markers and as many assists for FEU, which also lost the battle off boards – 39 to La Salle Zobel’s 55.

FEU dropped to 4-1 in a tie with Ateneo, which beat UE, 81-59.

Tomas Ramos sizzled with 15 points and Kristoffer Porter added 12 points and nine rebounds while Gab Capacio dished out a double-double job of 10 points and 11 rebounds and added five assists.

John Rodriguez made 12 points in leading the Junior Warriors, who also drew eight points and 11 rebounds from Ricardo Mandilag.

UE controlled the boards, 50-45, but lost out in assists (26 to 14) and on the fastbreak, with the Blue Eaglets scoring 19 against the Junior Warriors’ six.

Saturday’s other matches also saw University of Santo Tomas (UST) improve to 2-3 after beating UPIS, 67-61, and National University (NU) tie Adamson at 2-3 with a 63-57 win over the Baby Falcons.

Paolo Florentin led the Tiger Cubs with 15 points and nine rebounds, Nicko Bahia added 13 points and 14 rebounds and Alfred Cubilla 10 points, while Alvin Ungria and Angelo Latoreno hauled down 11 and 10 rebounds, respectively.

UPIS leaned on Kim Cinco’s 24 points, Jozhua General’s 15 points and 13 rebounds and Raymart Sablan’s 10 rebounds.

NU and Adamson engaged in one of the closest fights for the day, the game being tied seven times and the lead changing on nine occasions.

Norjohn Tendelinna had 12 points and seven rebounds, Ralph Busa 12 points, Raphael Atangan 10 points and Paolo Rivero 15 rebounds for the Bullpups, while on the other end, Angelo Quinlog made 18 points, Angelo Pineda 11 and Bryan Quipse also 11 markers to go with his seven rebounds.