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ARELLANO University and West Negros University captured their opening assignments in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League zonal qualifying tournament at the WNU Gym in Bacolod City last November 4, 2009.

The Mustangs, kings of Negros Occidental hoops, opened their campaign in front of their home crowd with a 93-77 victory over Mindanao champion Holy Trinity College Wildcats while the Chiefs, fifth placers in NCAA Season 85, survived upset-minded University of San Carlos, 79-74.

Veterans Alfie Villariza, Jeff Jacinto and Jetric Sumido finished in double-figures, combining for 43 of the 11-time Negros Occidental Private Sports, Cultural and Educational Association titlists’ point total. WNU head coach Troy Sarabia, however, was not pleased with the way his troops performed.

“We cannot expect to win if we play the way we did tonight,” he said. The Mustangs led by as many as 20 points, 69-49, in the third period through the exploits of Villariza, Jacinto, Rolly Jaca and Robert Lauron. The Wildcats, first-time participants in the tournament, embarked on a 21-8 run to trim the WNU lead to seven after an Eric Lamanilao trey with seven minutes left in the final quarter. Jacinto then replied with his own version of the long ball before Raul Suyod punctuated the win with a slam at the three-minute mark.

Arellano, meanwhile, struggled for most of the game but still managed to upend Cebu Sports Association Foundation Inc. third-placers USC. Coach Junjie Ablan’s outfit trailed for most of the game but made the necessary adjustments on defense to take the pivotal game from the Warriors.

John Tayongtong scored 11 of his team’s last 18 points in the final five minutes of the game to give the Legarda quintet the cushion it needed in the home stretch. Andrian Celada scored 14 of his team-high 21 points in the first half, and scored on a crucial undergoal stab with 1:20 in the payoff period to put away the Warriors.

“We had a sluggish start, kaya nalamangan kami hanggang third period. Nag-adjust ako, I went to the 1-2-2 zone defense and it paid off,” Ablan told inboundpass.com.

Giovanni Padillo, a 2009 CESAFI Mythical Five member, paced USC with 21 points. Big man Joven Cortes, meanwhile, was held in check by the Chiefs as he scored just four markers.

HTC, which unexpectedly disposed of Ateneo de Davao University to capture the Mindanao regional, next plays Arellano University at 4:30 p.m. on November 5, before USC and WNU take the court at 6 p.m. A loss would all but end both the Wildcats and Warriors’ PCCL campaign. The top two teams at the end of the single round-robin format advance to the Sweet 16 of the tournament.

The Scores:

First Game

Arellano 79 – Celada 21, G. Ciriacruz 14, Tayongtong 13, Rivera 9, Agustin 7, Virtudazo 6, I. Ciriacruz 5, Dimla 2, Miranda 2, Reducto 0, Anquilo 0.

USC 74 – Padillo 23, Cantonao 14, Hermosa 13, Gallarde 7, Panerio 5, Codilla 4, Bautista 4, Cortes 4, Bakker 0.

Quarter scores: 13-17, 29-33, 52-50, 79-74.

Second Game

West Negros 93 – Villariza 15, Sumido 14, Jacinto 14, Suyod 9, Jaca 9, Merin 7, Catalino 6, Javelona 6, Dapar 6, Lauron 4, Agudelo 3.

HTC 77 – Roxas 19, Lamanilao 15, Pragados 14, Landicho 8, Masiana 8, Esguerra 6, Masaglang 4, Versoza 2, de Mesa 1.

Quarter scores: 25-18, 48-38, 73-60, 93-77.

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