HERCOR College Junior Jaguars moved closer to the 2nd Exsems Basketball Invitational Pocket Tournament title after tallying their second straight win at the Agusto B. Legaspi Sports Complex in Kalibo, Aklan on Monday.
The Junior Jaguars leaned on the hot hands of Janwell Famaranco, Dale Lautrizo and Raffy Arguelles to score an 89-71 victory over the Exsem Aklan Selection and improve to 2-0 (win-loss).
Holding on to a 23-20 lead at the end of one, the Junior Jaguars started to pull away in the second period behind Famaranco, Arguelles and Lautrizo for a 55-36 halftime advantage.
The Aklan selection attempted to recover in the second half but the Junior Jaguars regained their form and built their largest lead with shots from Pedrico Conanan and Ezekiel Salenga.
Famaranco and Lautrizo finished with 22 points apiece while Arguelles added 12 markers for the Junior Jaguars. Ace Ventura had 19 points while James Santiago added 13 markers for Aklan (0-2).
On the other hand Hua Siong College of Iloilo Red Phoenix recovered from opening-day defeat with a come-from-behind 71-63 victory over CenterPhil Montessori Silver Knights.
Trailing by as much as 10 points in the first period, the Red Phoenix slowly clawed their way back in the second quarter to come to within 33-38 before finally taking the lead 50-47 after three quarters.
In the fourth quarter the steady hands of mainstay Reynold Tupas, Lee Yanzi Jimera and Carlo Miguel Paguntalan allowed the Red Phoenix to distance itself from the Silver Knights for good.
Tupas made 24 points while Paguntalan and Jimera added 15 and 12 markers, respectively, for the Red Phoenix (1-1). Lester Valn Paraico had 18 markers for the Silver Knights (1-1)./PN
