DEFENDING champion FEU-NRMF-Gerry’s Grill and Philippine Christian University fashioned out similar convincing victories in the 2017 MBL Open basketball tournament at the fully air-conditioned FEU-NRMF gym in Fairview.
Fil-German Glen Gravengard made his presence felt from the long court and Clay Crellin and Moustapha Arafat asserted themselves in the shaded area as FEU-NRMF outgunned UNTV Cup champion Philippine National Police, 95-73, for its fourth win in five matches.
Gravengard, one of the talented newcomers seeking to land a spot in the coming PBA Draft, hit five three-point shots on the way to a game-high 25 points for the Tamaraws of manager Nino Reyes and coach Pido Jarencio.
Crellin, who earned MVP honors while leading FEU to the title against Emilio Aguinaldo College in last year’s MBL Open, added 15 points.
Arafat had 13 points, including several breakaway dunks late in the game and the outcome already settled.
PCU rode on a torrid second-half shooting anchored on Mike Ayonayon and Yves Sazon to frustrate MLQU-Victoria Sports, 76-47, for a 3-1 record in the tournament sponsored by Smart Sports, Starbread, Dickies Underwear, Ironcon Builders and Gerry’s Grill.
Ayonayon poured 22 points and Sazon added 18 points for the Elvis Tolentino-mentored Dolphins, who bounced back from a disappointing 71-77 loss to Colegio de San Lorenzo- V Hotel last Saturday.
Ayonayon and Sazon combined for 17 of the Dolphins’ 24 third-quarter points to turn a close contest into a rout for the Taft-based team of PCU president Dr. Junifen Gauuan, ISPEAC head Dr. Martha Ijiran and coach Ato Tolentino.
Jayson Grimaldo carried the fight for the Stallions with 14 markers.
MLQU-Victoria was in rhe thick of the fight in the first two quarters, which saw several ties and lead changes. But Ayonayon caught fire as PCU went on a long scoring binge to break the game wide open.
The scores
First game:
PCU (76) — Ayonayon 22, Sazon 18, Mescallados 9, Sumalacay 8, Castro 5, Catipay 5, Vasquez 4, Bautista 3, Palattao 2.
MLQU-Victoria Sports (47) — Grimaldo 14, Lao 9, Estrella 7, Rivera 6, Sumay 4, Asturiano 3, De la Cruz 2, Fabila 1, Jamila 1.
Quarterscores: 15-15, 26-24, 50-37, 76-47.
Second game
FEU-NRMF-Gerry’s Grill (95) — Gravengard 25, Crellin 15, Arafat 13, Zamora 8, Diwa 8, Manalo 8, Gumabay 8, Raymundo 5, Gonzales 5, Tan 0.
PNP (73) – Abaya 18, Misola 10, Elopre 9, Bayabao 8, Onguran 7, Sagum 6, Raborar 5, Tolentino 4, Dia 2, Sagum 2, Ramirez 2.
Quarterscores: 32-8, 47-29, 65-52, 95-73.