UNIVERSITY of Negros Occidental – Recoletos / Red House Taiwan Shabu Shabu moved closer to the crown after an 80-74 win over Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias / Silver Dragon Construction in Game 1 of the Negros Basketball Association President’s Cup finals at the Bacolod Tay Tung High School.
Landry Zanjo waxed hot offensively with 49 points to lead UNO-R, which can clinch the championship in Game 2 on Saturday night.
Both teams traded leads in the first two quarters of the Sunday match. UNO-R hanged on a 37-35 lead at the half after a 3-pointer from CSAV’s Jeffrey Manday late in the second frame.
The game remained tight in the third period. CSAV had its chance to take the lead with Manday’s consecutive points but UNO-R snatched a 60-55 lead on Gerome Aledron hits.
CSAV had its last stand in the fourth at 64-all on Elvis Atinado’s basket but UNO-R leaned on inside conversions from Zanjo to build a double-digit lead and never looked back.
Manday top-scored with 28 points, Jerich Adorio added 14 markers while import Junior Essakadualla was held to just 11 points for CSAV.
Supreme ABF Silvergraces Construction came up strong at crunch time to beat YBAC / ESJ / Fyr Fyter 96-92 and clinch the third place./PN
