J & B dumps VRJ Engineering in clash of unbeaten squads

The expected close match turned out to be a rout after J & B devasted VRJ Engineering, 114-93, in the battle of unbeaten squads in the Punta Prinsesa Sports Association's Lourdes Fiesta Cup 2006 open basketball tournament at the Vicente Sotto Memorial gym.

J & B cruised to its sixth consecutive win in come-from-behind fashion as it was VRJ Engineering which lit up the offensive fire in the early goings.

Behind the able leadership of ex-PBA cager Calvin Tuadles, VRJ Engineering jumped off to a blistering 28-20 start, but J & B suddenly waxed hot, with Michael Dumdum, Junjun Caburnay, and Keith Arellano presiding over a searing run that buoyed them to a 17-point edge at halftime, 57-40.

The lead ballooned as the game progressed, thanks to the effecient quarterbacking of ex-pro Lou Regidor, who dished out a bunch of nifty assists that enabled seven J & B players to cash in double figures.

Arellano and Jojo Cañete scored 20 and 14 points, respectively, while, Regidor, Nacua, Dumdum, Caburnay, and Japin combined for 58 points for J & B.

Andy Fuentes led VRJ Engineering with 41 points, while Michael Arias, Dodong Rosaroso, and Lito Fuentes connived for 36 points, but their efforts went futile as they saw their four-game winning streak come to a halt.

In the other games, Glenn Birao, Abet Larrobis, and Yok Alesna combined for 63 points to power SWAN Sardines to a 105-95 whacking of USC-PTA, while Loctite Super Glue blasted CEC '60s, 119-80, to record the most lopsided victory in the tournament, so far.

Mario Medalle, Takus Nacar and Michael Duran conspired for 62 points as Swan Sardines took the solo second spot with an improved 5-1 win-loss card.

The scores

J & B (114) - K. Arellano 20, Cañete 14, Nacua 13, Dumdum 13, Caburnay 12, Japin 10, Regidor 10, Gonzaga 9, Abbu 7, A. Arellano 4, Caballes 2

VRJ (93) - Fuentes 41, Arias 16, Rosaroso 10, L. Fuentes 10, Lim 8, Tuadles 3, Serafica 3, Mosqueda 2, Ciabo 1