Prime Asia coasts to eighth straight win

THE PRIME Asia-University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers coasted to their eighth win in a row as they buried the hapless Raphael’s Sports Bar-University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars, 70-40, in the Enervon-Cesafi Partner’s Cup yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.

As relentless as UV has been in destroying its opponents in each game, the same can’t be said for USJ-R, which absorbed its eighth loss in a row and remains winless in this competition.

Miko Marquez led Prime Asia with 13 while Arvie Cabanero had 10.

In the second game, the Gaisano Capital South-University of Cebu (UC) survived the 19-point fourth period explosion of Vincent Menguito and prevailed, 84-80, over the San Marino Corned Tuna Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U).

Menguito played like a man on a mission in the final canto as he was a monster on the offensive board and putback capped off a 13-2 run that put CIT-U ahead, 74-69, after trailing. 61-67.

But UC rallied behind its vaunted three-point shooting as back-to-back treys by Gerald Ampoon and Jan Auditor along with a three-point play by Arnaud Noah allowed the Webmasters to retake the lead, 80-76, with 1:38 left.

CIT-U last threatened at 80-83 after a tip-in by Menguito. But the door was shut by Junas Misa as he split his charities with 2.9 seconds remaining.

Ampoon, who is returning to the team following a year’s absence, topped UC with 14 while Auditor had 12 to help UC up its record to 6-2 (win-loss).

Menguito finished with 24 points but was the lone man in double-figures for CIT-U, which fell to 3-5.

In the third game, the Cebu Landmasters-University of San Carlos (USC) defeated the Lion Tiger Katol-University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF), 67-60. /correspondent jonas panerio