UNIVERSITY of Negros Occidental-Recoletos/Red Taiwan Shabu-Shabu and ESJ Fyr Fyter/YBAC kicked off their 2018 Negros Basketball Association (NBA) campaigns with wins at the Bacolod Tay Tung High School in Bacolod City.
Cameroonian import Landry Zanjo waxed hot with 40 points – 21 coming in the first half – as UNO-R scored 75-63 over Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias/Silver Dragon Construction on April 9.
In the second game, ESJ Fyr Fyter/YBAC survived the tough challenge from La Consolacion College/Davies Paint-J Squared Construction to score an 87-80 victory.
Trailing 18-21 at the end of the opening period, UNO-R pulled away in the second frame as Zanjo wreaked havoc in the paint for his team to take a 38-31 edge at the half.
UNO-R surged further in the second half as Zanjo teamed up with Kevin Villafranca to build a double-digit lead. CSAV rallied to within 7 in the fourth canto but Zanjo sealed their win with inside baskets.
Cameroonian reinforcement JR Essakoudalla top-scored with 18 points for CSAV. Carl Magbanua and Jeric Adorio had 13 and 10 points, respectively.
In the ESJ Fyr Fyter-LCC/Davies match, John Nermal led the winning team with 21 points – 9 coming in the third period – while Coleen Testa and Rolly Jaca added 16 and 14 markers, respectively.
The competition has a single round-robin elimination round, tournament commissioner Bobby Tee said.
The top two teams earn the twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals while those ranked third to sixth play in knockout quarterfinals.
The winner between No. 3 and the No. 6 will challenge the top team while the survivor between No. 4 and No. 5 shall face No. 2./PN
