UNIVERSITY of Negros Occidental – Recoletos / Red House Taiwan Shabu Shabu bagged the Negros Basketball Association (NBA) President’s Cup title on Sunday night.
UNO-R cruised to an 86-76 victory over Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias / Silver Dragon in Game 3 of the best-of-three finale at the Bacolod Tay Tung High School gym in Bacolod City.
With another all-around performance, Landry Zanjo finished the match with 29 points for UNO-R. Patrick Yulo chipped in with 11 while tournament Most Valuable Player Japhet Claridad and Ritcher Santillan made 10 points each.
“Our import (Zanjo) was playing well and we just had to play better defense,” said UNO-R head coach Gerome Aledron. “We’re grateful to win the NBA title on its return.”
After a tight first half, UNO-R began to take control of the game in the third period on inside conversions from Zanjo and outside hits from Yulo, Santillan and Claridad as they built their largest lead at 21 points.
CSAV did not easily give up despite playing without suspended Jerich Adorio and flu-stricken Joseph Yoro – it managed to get to as close as 7 points but baskets from Zanjo iced the victory for UNO-R.
“We really felt the absence of Adorio and Yoro in the rotation. We can’t make any gamble because they (UNO-R) are also making their shots,” said CSAV head coach Elvis Atinado.
Jeffrey Manday top-scored with 29 points for CSAV, which forced the do-or-die Game 3 with an emphatic 88-71 win in Game 2 on Saturday night. Cameroonian import JR Essakadualla delivered 19 points while Carl Magbanua added 11.
Named in the Mythical Selection were UNO-R’s Zanjo and Claridad, CSAV’s Manday, John Nermal of ESJ/Fyr Fyter/YBAC, and Erwilson Santos of ABF Supreme/Silvergraces Construction./PN
