By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Royal Star Trading assumed solo leadership in the 1st United Negros Basketball League (UNBL) 25-Under Open Tournament after a 56-51 victory over JEYDI K Waterproofing at the Bacolod Tay Tung High School Po Hang Gym in Bacolod City.

Saldy Macabato led the way with 16 points, Justin Jay Ragay added 12 markers, while Rafael Catalonia contributed seven points as Royal Star Trading stayed on top with a 6-0 slate.

JEYDI K managed to keep in step with Royal Star Trading the entire game and the score was tied at 51-all with a minute left before the latter got timely conversions from Macabato and Ragay to escape with a win.

Arkel Santero top-scored with 12 points, Axcel Fernandez added 10 markers, while Joshua Abkilan ended with eight points as JEYDI K suffered its third defeat in five matches.

Visayan Maritime Academy leaned on the hot shooting of Albert Urbanozo to score a 92-78 victory over OBI Knights for its first victory in five matches. The OBI Knights dropped to 1-5.

Urbanozo led the way for VMA with 36 points, including eight three-point conversions, Jeric Magada chipped in 15 markers, while John Paul Amante contributed nine points in the win.

Adrian Alagaban connected on seven triples to finish with 31 points, Edgar Calpes contributed 14 markers, while Danilo Aplasca chipped in 10 markers for the struggling Knights.

Colegio de San Agustin Bacolod/Strived Sportswear registered its third straight victory by outlasting JSY Transport, 86-81. CSA-B is now in the middle of the standings with 3-2, while JSY has 2-3.

Mycco Deposoy unloaded 27 points to lead the way for the CSA-B team, Kenneth Malazarte and Jemar Cepriano submitted 16 points apiece, while Rowel Negro shot 12 markers in the win.

University of St. La Salle/Fyr-Fyter got back on the winning track as it dominated KDR Perfecto, 80-45, to improve to 4-1.

Josh Luciano paced the winning team with 20 markers, while Andrie Dubouzet and Riggy Alinsoring had 14 and 11, respectively./ASC, WDJ