UPIS, UST claim opening round assignments

Games on Wednesday (Jan. 18) at the Filoil-Ecooil Centre
9:00 a.m. - FEU-D vs UE
11:00 a.m. - DLSZ vs Adamson
2:00 p.m. - UST vs NSNU
4:00 p.m. - Ateneo vs UPIS

Both the University of the Philippines Integrated School and the University of Santo Tomas won their assignments in the morning session of Sunday's quadruple-header at the Filoil EcoOil Centre, kickstarting the UAAP Season 85 High School Boys tournament.

The Junior Maroons needed an additional five minutes to dispatch the University of the East, 101-94.

The win matched their season total from the last time high school basketball was played, back in Season 82, which also came against UE.

UPIS head coach Paolo Mendoza shares, "Yung panalo namin masaya dahil since 2020, iniintay po namin ito especially sa kagaya ni Kobe na rookie, first time niya to experience this. [We] wanted it more."

Gilas Youth prospects led the way for the Junior Maroons, with Basty Jacob leading all scorers with nineteen points, nine rebounds, and four steals, while Kobe Demisana adding a double-double with seventeen points and fourteen rebounds. The 6'8 big man also packed the stat sheets with four assists, a couple of steals, and four blocks in his first game as a UAAP player.

Also scoring in double figures for the Junior Maroons are Daryl Valdeavilla with eighteen, Jonas Napalang with seventeen, and Rocco Melicor with sixteen.

Leading the way for UE is JD Malonzo and his fifteen points, while Andrei de Leon and Drei Gragasin each added thirteen markers.

In contrast to the opening match, the Tiger Cubs eked out a 56-46 victory over La Salle-Zobel in a low-scoring affair.

UST used a strong second half to overcome a sluggish first twenty minutes, overcoming a 17-26 deficit to tie things at 38 at the end of the third quarter. They then took over in the final period, outscoring Junior Archers, 18-8.

Jinino Manansala credited his seniors for the win. He says, "Natutuwa ako sa mga graduating namin nag step up sila like si James Jumao-as, JP Pangilinan, si Mark Llemit

Jumao-as led all scorers with seventeen points, while adding four rebounds. Pangilinan added ten points.

Rhyle Melencio contributed a double-double for DLS-Z with thirteen points and twelve boards.

The Scores:

First Game:

UPIS 101 -- Jacob 19, Valdevilla 18, Demisana 17, Napalang 17, Melicor 16, Raymundo 9, Villaverde 3, Cordero 2, Mendoza 0.

UE 94 -- Malonzo 15, De Leon 13, Gragasin 13, Caldit 9, Morales 9, Pangilinan 8, V. Reyes 8, Gatchalian 5, Duque 4, Bagro 3, F. Reyes 3, Isip 2, Flores 2, Roldan 0, Ramos 0.

Quarterscores: 20-18, 40-47, 69-70, 86-86, 101-95.

Second Game:

UST 56 -- Jumao-as 17, Pangilinan 10, Esteban 10, Llemit 7, Bucsit 6, Pantaleon 6, Ayon 0, Velasquez 0, Miaco 0, Buenaflor 0, Tesocan 0, Manding 0, Naron 0.

DLSZ 46 -- Melencio 13, San Agustin 9, Alas 9, Dimaano 7, Melecio 4, Espina 2, Pabellano 2, Sta. Maria 0, Chang 0, Cruz 0.