By ADRIAN STEWART CO
STI-West Negros University (WNU) and Bacolod Tay Tung High School (BTTHS) Thunderbolts kept their unblemished slate at the close of 1st United Negros Basketball League (UNBL) Aspirants Cup 2023 eliminations at the BTTHS covered court in Bacolod City.
STI-WNU finished on top in Bracket A with a perfect 7-0 win-loss slate following a 63-58 victory over University of St. La Salle-Bacolod (USLS), 6-1. Ed Christein Marinduque tallied 12 points to lead the winning team.
STI-WNU waxed hot in the opening half and was on top at 37-27 at the half, which later grew to 52-39. USLS countered with a huge fourth quarter rally, but the time was not enough to turn the result around.
Meanwhile, Bacolod Tay Tung High-A leaned on the exploits of Adrian James Alagaban as they walloped St. John’s Institute Team A (SJI-A), 75-63, to snatch the top seed in Bracket B at 7-0.
Alagaban carried the offense for Thunderbolts-A with 28 points, 19 of which came in the second half, Ahron John Cagayao added 13 markers, while Dave Matthew Recodo dropped 10 points.
Santino Miguel Loretizo and Jose Miguel Sy paced SJI-A with 15 points apiece, anchored on three triples each. Tabby Aldwin Espartero also connected three outside conversions for 11 markers.
On the other hand, Bacolod City National High School secured the third playoff spot in Bracket A with a 5-2 card after a 60-55 win over Luisa Medel National High School, which still advanced to the quarterfinals despite the loss.
St. Joseph School-La Salle (SJS-LS) also clinched third place in Bracket B at 5-2 after defeating La Consolacion College-Bacolod, 52-37. SJS-LS was led by Jameer Angelo Gapusan with 15 points.
The quarterfinal clash is slated at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 24, with Bacolod Tay Tung-A facing Luisa Medel, while STI-WNU goes up against University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos.
BTTHS-A and STI-WNU will be armed with a twice to beat advantage.
At 6:15 p.m., USLS meets SJS-LS and SJI-A versus Bacolod City National High School in knockout matches. Winners will advance to the semifinals clash on Sunday, February 26 starting at 3:30 p.m./ASC, WDJ