Smileys, Solar Boys top PSA Cup opener

c/o PSA

The media get their turn on the basketball court, as the PSA Cup held its opening night doubleheader at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Tuesday.

Graced by Richard Bachmann of the Philippine Sports Commission and Dr. Ian Laurel of the Athletic Events and Sports Management, Inc. and the Shakey's Super League, the opening ceremonies kicked off the four-team tournament, which is one of the projects of the Philippine Sportswriters Association under the leadership of its president Nelson Beltran of the Philippine Star.

The first matchup of the day saw Christian Jacinto and Aldo Aviñante power the Capital1 Solar Boys over the Strong Group Athletics' Press Row Boys, 86-74.

Jacinto logged in a double-double performance with 21 points, thirteen rebounds, a couple of steals, and three blocks, while Aviñante tacked on nineteen markers while adding three boards and five dimes on his 35th birthday.

Mentored by Ramon Bonilla of the Manila Bulletin, the Solar Boys got additional contributions from Mark Rey Montejo and John Bryan Ulanday, who combined to score 32 points.

Leading the way for the Daily Tribune's Julius Manicad-mentored Press Row Boys is Karlo Sacamos, who contributed 21 points and twelve rebounds, while Diego Dela Paz and Eugene Flores each netted seventeen points.

The second game of the doubleheader saw the Say Chiz Smileys fend off SMART Sports Scribes, 66-64.

Jeric Lopez nailed the game-winning floater with 39 seconds remaining, with Philippine Daily Inquirer's Francis Ochoa-mentored side securing the key stops down the stretch against the side mentored by Dodo Catacutan of SPIN.PH.

Jonas Terrado topped all scorers with 21 points while also stuffing the stat sheet with fourteen rebounds, a couple of assists, four steals, and a block. Lopez added sixteen points, three rebounds and four assists, while Cedelf Tupas netted fifteen markers, four dimes, and four steals.

The Scribes got nineteen points from AJ Bolando, but was limited to a couple of points in the final period. He also added eight rebounds and a couple of steals. Before fouling out late, Julio Sampedro added eighteen markers, all coming from beyond the arc.

Action resumes next week with Say Chiz and Capital1 starting the doubleheader, with SMART Sports and Strong Group facing off afterwards.

THE Say Chiz Smileys had the last laugh after surviving a close one against the Smart Sports Scribes while Capital1 Solar Boys delivered a wire-to-wire victory over the Strong Group Athletics Press Row Bros in the opening of the 2024 Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Tuesday, February 20.