UST-Ironcon crushes Mapua-Mighty Sports in MBL

MANILA, Philippines - Youth prevailed over experience as University of Santo Tomas-Ironcon Builders crushed MOB Packers, 100-72, and Mapua-Mighty Sports overpowered Skyforce, 63-54, in the 2011 MBL Invitational basketball championship at the Lyceum gym in Intramuros, Manila.

Clark “Tata” Bautista exploded with a record nine three-point shots and finished with tournament-high 29 points in leading UST-Ironcon to its second straight win in the tournament sponsored by Cebuana Lhuillier, Smart Sports, Dickies Underwear, PRC Couriers and WG Diner.

The 6-1 Bautista used his quickness to elude his defenders, hitting four triples in the first quarter and five treys in the third period.

Bautista’s nine triples erased the previous high of seven made by Kevin Alas in Letran’s 89-72 win over Lyceum of the Philippines-Yummy Hotdogs last Nov. 19.

Five other mainstays – Aljon Mariano, John Sheriff, Louie Vigil, Kevin Ferrer and Kim Lo – also scored in double figures for the Tigers of coach Pido Jarencio and manager Jaime Lim.

Former Philippine Christian University standout Robert Sanz and ex-pro Al Vergara carried the fight for MOB with 22 and 17 points, respectively.

Equally impressive was Mapua-Mighty Sports, which drew big numbers from 6-7 Fil-Jordanian Youseff Taha, Kevin Ighalo, Mike Parala and Jumiel Chien.

Taha finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds for Mapua-Mighty Sports, which is being handled by coach Chito Victolero and assistant coach Yong Garcia.

With Taha making his presence felt the Cardinals raced to several double-digit leads in the first two periods before staving off Skyforce’s late rally initiated by Taganas.

Michael Lima topscored for Skyforce with 12 points, followed by former national players MC Caceres and Jay-Ar Taganas with 10 points apiece.