By ADRIAN STEWART CO 

Team Davies Paints/LCC-B rode on the hot hands of Mark Dubouzet to beat the University of St. La Salle Stingers, 98-94, in the 1st UNBL Open Tournament last Sunday, November 6, at Bacolod Tay Tung High School Po Hang Gym in Bacolod City.

Dubouzet was scorching on the offensive end for Team Davies as he scattered 43 points. Peewee Demonteverde backed him up with 11 points, while Richmer Nombre contributed nine points.

However, despite the exploits of Dubouzet, it was still a slim victory for Team Davies against the Stingers as the latter missed five crucial free throws in the endgame that could have wrapped up the win for them.

Keith Rheileen Ortilano led the way for the Stingers with 15 points, John Edmund Escultura and Mark June De La Cruz dropped 12 points each, while Bonn Ernest Daja made 10 points.

Supreme ABF/Silver Graces also had a winning start in the weekend-only tournament after an 82-69 domination of Acster Marketing behind the solid play of Landry Sanjo and Frederick Elombi.

Sanjo, formerly of Southwestern University Cobras, led the way for Supreme ABF with 34 points, while Elombi added 16 markers. The two were backstopped by playmaker Ramer Javillo with 13 markers.

Franc Steven Tono top-scored for Acster Marketing with 13 points, Bacolod BingoPlus players Richard Albo and Joel Lee Yu had 12 and eight points, respectively, while Chibueze Ikeh had 10 markers.

RA-AK Transport also cruised to a triumphant start as it defeated Tea Tas/Puff Boys, 66-54. Renz Solomon top-scored with 10 points, while May Parohinog, Mark Yee and Carl Magbanua had eight, seven and six points, respectively.

Let’s Go Strived-CSA-B, for their part, relied on its veteran players to overcome the tough fighting Red House Taiwan Shabu Shabu/UNO-R, 79-67, and join the early winners in the competition.

Harvey Eslawa and Rowel Negro paced Strived with 16 points apiece, and former San Beda Red Lions reinforcements Arnaud Noah and Jemar Cepriano drilled 13 and 10 points, respectively./ASC, WDJ