BY CYRUS M. GARDE
BACOLOD City – Arnol Laureño scored 34 points to push AACI Transport to defeated Royal Star Trading, 89-85 in the Fil-Sino All Asian Countertrade Inc. Inter-Company Basketball Tournament at the Po Hang Gym of Bacolod Tay Tung High School here.
In the other game, Joppy Cuaycong scored the same output to lead JSY Countertrade past Basecom, 94-84, posting a slim 17-16 lead in the first quarter, but kept its breeze to take, 46-31 at the break.
AACI Transport dominated the early quarters to lead at the break, 44-33, but Royal Star trailed and catch up with them to a 65-all in the third quarter through fast breaks attacks and outside shooting.
Lead exchange took place in the fourth but AACI Transport took advantage of the foul trouble against Royal Star with Laureño dominating the shaded area to connect with 14 points alone in the final quarter.
Ren Ren Lacson paced Royal Star with 23 points in their losing effort; Monroe Chua added 16; Badong Eufre shot 13; Villanueva and Chua with 10 each and Stephen Tan scored 6.
Meanwhile, Basecom outscored JSY Countertrade early with three players combined with 25 points but the latter also produced the same output to keep the lead, 74-59 going to the fourth quarter.
Cuaycong was supported by Daniel Ong with 18; Simon Tan scored 15; JP Tan 14; Kevin Hinolan 7 and Bol Manaloto 6.
Biboy Uysang paced Basecom with 29; Richard Co and Ervin Tan with 18 each; Iligan added 15./PN
