MANILA, Philippines - Newcomer Philippine Merchant Marine School, Feati University and St. Dominic College of Asia won their respective matches at the start of the fourth Interscholastic Athletic Association basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan last Wednesday.
PMMS drew 22 points from Sany Trinidad as it repulsed defending champion Technological Institute of the Philippines, 69-62, while Feati squeezed past Philippine Women’s University, 65-63, behind Kenneth Malilim’s 19-point performance.
Cherwin Klein Lao frolicked in the third quarter as St Dominic downed Manila Tytana Colleges, 80-75.
Earlier, PBA star Kerby Raymundo graced the opener of the collegiate league backed by Molten and Mikasa of Sonia Trading, Globe and Abot Kaya Corp.
Elmar Moradas scored 13 points and Dhon Reverente chipped in 10 as the PMMS Mariners frustrated the back-to-back title-seeking TIP Engineers.
The Feati Seahawks, meanwhile, also got 11 points from Leo Patian and 10 markers from James Monsale to down the PWU Patriots.
On the other hand, Martin Benedict Frani and Josiah Fordan fired 18 and 17 points, respectively, as the St Dominic Red Pikes quashed the repeated rallies of the MTC Titans.
La Consolacion College-Manila took a bye and will see action next week when the league begins its regular twice-a-week playdates.
The top two teams after the six-game classification round schedule will gain outright semifinal berths while the remaining squads will dispute the two other slots.