Avleyo-Anne’s Pride nipped Wang’s Ballclub, 60-58, while ACSAT subdued Ocean Fresh-Lyceum, 71-66, in a pair of exciting matches at the start of the 2007 MBL Open basketball tournament at the Lyceum gym in Intramuros, Manila.
Joel Solis scored nine of his 13 points in the second half to lead the Vic Lazaro-mentored Avleyo team to victory in this seven-team tournament supported by Dickies Underwear, Wild Man Sandals and Slippers, Big Boy Restaurant-Mandaluyong and Grand Boulevard Mansion.
Harold Sta. Cruz also scored 13 points for the Pasig-based squad of manager Franklin Abadies.
Eldrick Ferrer paced Wang’s Ballclub with 25 markers.
Romar Claveria was the only other player in double figures for Wang’s of coach Buboy Rodriguez.
ACSAT relied on the heroics of Chris Bularon to escape with a hard-earned win over Ocean Fresh-Lyceum.
Bularon nailed a long three-point shot with 25 seconds left to shatter the game‚s last deadlock at 66-all and the rest of the Lightnings defended well to frustrate the Pirates‚ final offensive.
Bularon topscored for the Lightnings with a game-high 24 points, including five triples.
Former PBA superstar Paul „Mr. Excitement‰ Alvarez and PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad made the ceremonial toss during the brief opening ceremony.
The scores:
Avleyo-Anne‚s Pride (60) — Solis 13, Sta. Cruz 13, Balmaceda 13, Dionisio 6, Olalia 5, Mamangon 3, Bautista 2, Valena 2, Gangoso 2, Lazaro 1.
Wang‚s (58) ˆ Ferrer 25, Claveria 10, Gaco 8, Baltazar 7, Jamil 3, Williams 2, Aquitania 2, Franco 2.
Quarterscores: 14-11, 26-29, 50-46, 60-58.
Second game
ACSAT (71) — Bularon 24, Casil 15, Burgos 8, Quilaquiga 7, Munoz 6, Jabaybay 4, Bangqueriga 3, Recla 2, Nunal 2, De la Rama 0.
Ocean Fresh-Lyceum (66) — Pagente 22, Medina 12, Calimag 11, Santiago 10, Rimando 8, Veranga 2, Balmaceda 1.
Quarterscores: 17-17, 31-28, 51-45, 71-66