Vinta Victors, EXL and Shogun kicked off their campaigns in the Next5Hoops Metro Manila 2nd South Leg Qualifier over the weekend with convincing victories at EJG Lucky Gym.
Los Timog Ballers and Footstep Hauz also racked up the wins in the Recreational Division but unlike the three others, they first had to go through the wringer.
Vinta Victors handily defeated EC Gasifiers, 78-55, thanks to a dominating performance inside the paint.
With a 63-43 advantage in rebounds and 52-34 edge downlow, Vinta Victors’ 28 turnovers that led to 31 points for EC Gasifiers were hardly noticeable.
Vinta Victors also enjoyed a team effort from 12 scorers led by Dante Denosta, who had 17 points and five rebounds off the bench.
Charles De Leon had 11 points, Jhenric Tu and Gabriel Cadano added nine points apiece in a losing effort for EC Gasifiers.
EXL blasted Don Bosco Makati, 90-73, behind the strength of its starting five.
All but 15 points of the total scoring output came from the starters with Patrick Belen and JV Celadena leading the way with 23 and 21 points, respectively, while Anthony Cagaoan had seven markers and whopping 23 rebounds.
Celadena and Cagaoan also combined for 10 of the team’s 13 steals.
Despite the loss, there was no lack of heroes in the Don Bosco Makati side with Ian Ples standing out with 27 points and 18 rebound and Pierre Acuin not far behind with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Shogun likewise owned the paint en route to a 76-48 beating of Pound Alabang.
Jan Asido and Mark Tacorda spearheaded Shogun’s attack, finishing with 18 and 16 points, respectively while Brian Medina and Justine Lopez took care of the glass and combined for 23 boards.
There was a lone bright spot for Pound Alabang as Marco Evardone paced all scorers with 19 points built on four triples.
Meanwhile, Los Timog Ballers hang tough to beat Bullets, 89-88.
Marwin Montejo capped his team-best 28 points with a clutch freethrow with 0.5 ticks left that handed Los Timog Ballers the victory.
Taking the lead for good with 5:09 to play, Los Timog Ballers clung on to a precarious lead, which also went as high as 6 in the final stretch.
Jad Asaran also exploded with 25 markers and five rebounds for Los Timog Ballers.
The tandem of Nyvin Alejandro and Mark Sadsarin, who combine for 49 points, kept Bullets afloat.
Footsteps Hauz leaned on a closing 8-0 run to stun Tune Squad, 74-71.
Down 71-67 with a little under two minutes to play, Footsteps Hauz held Tune Squad scoreless until the final buzzer to claim the win.
Christian Paguinto sizzled with 23 points in 24 minutes of action and got ample support from the likes of Richard Dela Cruz and Jonas Javier, who also stepped up in the clutch.
Dela Cruz and Javier accounted for 20 points and 18 rebounds combined.
