MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo and Adamson fashioned out contrasting victories over separate rivals to kick off their respective bids in the first Jumbo Plastic Linoleum Cup 2014 basketball tournament at the Enderun Colleges gym in Taguig City yesterday.
Playing minus star players Jolo Mendoza and twin brothers Matt and Mike Nieto, the Blue Eaglets outlasted Chiang Kai Shek College, 71-67, behind Gian Mamuyac, Brix Ramos and Esjay Belangel, who all scored double figures.
Mendoza and the Nieto brothers are with the Batang Gilas which are seeing action in the FIBA Under-17 World Championship in Dubai.
Mamuyac led Ateneo with 13 points and four rebounds while Ramos and Belangel combined for 23 points and 10 rebounds as the Eaglets served notice of their bid in the tournament presented by Jumbo Plastic Linoleum.
The Baby Falcons, on the other hand, overwhelmed the University of Perpetual Help Altalettes, 116-72.
With Gio Calacalsada and Jojo Antiporda on the firing end, the Goldwin Monteverde-mentored Adamson raced to an early 32-12 advantage to post the first lopsided win in the tournament sponsored by Smart Telecommunications, K-tech Sports, Inc., Powerbest Marketing, CW Home Depot, Powerhouse and Dickies Underwear.
Jumbo Plastic Linoleum vice president for marketing Jefferson dela Cruz and Enderun Colleges director for admission Daniel Perez graced the opening ceremony.
Also getting off to rousing starts were Far Eastern University and Hope Christian High School.
With Tzaddy Rangel and Antonio Yang at the helm, the Hope Christian cagers walloped Diliman Preparatory School, 84-61, while the Baby Tamaraws drew 25 points from Brandrey Bienes and 17 from Wendelino Comboy III to down the University of the Philippines Junior Maroons, 76-66.