With former Letran star Fran Yu promptly making an impact, San Juan nipped Bicol 103-100 last Wednesday night to extend its unbeaten run to four and gain solo third in the Manila Bankers Life-Pilipinas Super League Pro Division Second Conference Dumper Cup at the Rizal Technological University Gym in Mandaluyong.
The 5’10” Yu scattered 18 points, on top of five rebounds and six assists in a gutsy debut for the Kings, while Marwin Taywan chipped in 14 markers, two boards, and two dimes.
Rence Nocum, AC Soberano, and Paolo Javillonar also had 13, 12, and 11 points, respectively for the Randy Alcantara-mentored Kings, who went into the match on a high after they thumped San Pedro Laguna-ARS last week and raised their mark to 4-0.
Playing for the first time since absorbing a numbing 90-95 loss to Manila last Dec. 8, the Oragons fell to their third straight defeat and a 2-4 slate in the tourney presented by Winzir and co-presented by SCD Cosmetics and Dumper party-list, and supported by NET 25, Adcon, Wcube Solutions Inc., MDC, Unisol, Don Benitos, and Finn Cotton, with PBA and Gilas Pilipinas great Marc Pingris serving as Commissioner.
In the other tiff, Sta. Rosa Laguna repulsed 1Munti 84-72 for its third triumph in a row.
Don Reverente shone for the Lions with a double-double of 27 points and 11 caroms, while Nat Cosejo and JBoy Solis added eight markers each.
The win came on the heels of Sta. Rosa’s 73-64 victory over Quezon City last Dec. 22 and hiked its card to 5-1 in a tie with Batang Kankaloo-Caloocan for fifth.
Reeling from a 67-82 whipping at the hands of the Pampanga G Lanterns last week, their fifth straight that sank the Emeralds to 1-5.
John Olegario paced Bicol with 21 points and four rebounds, while James Martinez had 11 and five.
Lester Reyes and Paulo Castro got 10 markers apiece for the Oragons.
John Cantimbuhan scored 13 points for 1Munti, while RJ Ramirez added 12 markers.
Francis Camacho also contributed 11 points for the Emeralds.
The scores
First game
STA. ROSA LAGUNA 84 – Reverente 27, Cosejo 8, Solis 8, Sara 7, Sumoda 7, Acuña 5, Bonsubre 5, Koga 5, Joson 4, Lee 4, Cabanag 2, Rogado 2, Matias 0.
1MUNTI 72 – Cantimbuhan 13, Ramirez 12, Camacho 11, Sarmiento 7, Basco 6, Matillano 5, Pasia 5, Alano 4, Mabigat 4, Umpad 3, Alves 2, Galit 0.
Quarters: 19-24, 42-37, 55-57, 84-72.
Second game
SAN JUAN 103 – Yu 18, Taywan 14, Nocum 13, Soberano 12, Javillonar 11, Panganiban 9, Dennison 8, Wamar 8, Eguilos 7, Marquez 3, Tajonera 0.
BICOL 100 – Olegario 21, Martinez 11, Castro 10, Reyes 10, Alday 9, Guevarra 8, Montuano 8, Pido 7, Carandang 5, Destacamento 5, Menguez 4, Mendoza 2, Yu 0.
Quarters: 28-23, 65-52, 92-78, 103-100.