Nonoy dazzles as Tiger Cubs nip Junior Maroons

MANILA, Philippines – Mark Nonoy stood head and shoulders above everyone else in leading the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs past the University of the Philippines Junior Fighting Maroons, 93-86, in the Under-19 Division of the Sulit.ph Breakdown Basketball Invitational Tournament at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center.

Down 72-68 entering the fourth period, Nonoy, a fresh recruit of out the Palarong Pambansa, scored 14 points, including a thunderous dunk, and grabbed six rebounds to send UST to the top of the U-19 standings.

UST looked comfortable early in the second quarter when they posted a 27-17 lead after a lay-up by Jomar Amador, but UP buckled down to work and answered with a 16-5 flurry anchored by three triples to take the lead. UP went into the half leading, 48-42. 

The Junior Maroons were able to repel UST’s third quarter charges, but they had no answer for Nonoy’s explosion the final frame.

The loss was UP’s second in six matches and allowed UST to take the pole position of the nine-team division with a 6-1 record. Idle De La Salle Zobel is at 5-1 while the AMA Junior Titans tote a 4-2 slate.

Nonoy finished with a game-high 26 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal. UST’s sparkplug wasn’t the only Tiger Cubs with 20 points or more.

Kevin Barranco scored 24 points and added 5 boards and 2 assists in the effort. Veteran Vince Dolendo also added 10 markers. 

Matt Santiago and Jordie Gomez De Liaño were a solid 1-2 punch for the Juniors Fighting Maroons as they finished with 22 and 18 points respectively, but no one else scored in double figures.

In other games in the U19 Division, Colegio de San Benildo (2-3) crushed Arellano University (2-2), 93-78 behind the 23 points of A Gotera while De La Salle Zobel destroyed Malabon, 94-58.