Chiefs thump Scorpions in Fr. Martin Cup

MANILA, Philippines – Zach Nicholls and newcomer Adam Gupilan struck hard for the Arellano University Chiefs as they blasted the Centro Escolar University Scorpions, 82-74, Monday in the 22nd Fr. Martin Cup Summer Basketball Tournament at the St. Placid gym of the San Beda College-Manila campus in Mendiola.

Nichols and Gupilan, who is from Los Angeles, California, scored 23 and 17 points, respectively, to lead the Chiefs to their first win two games in Group A of the senior division.

This enabled the Chiefs to bounce back from a 78-82 loss to the Adamson Falcons two weeks ago.

In the junior matches, the Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws whipped Pace, 88-33, to pick up their second straight triumph in Group A.

Manila Patriotic School tasted their first win in three games, and at the expense of San Beda-Alabang, 93-50, in Group B.

In other games, Letran-A put away Jose Rizal University-A, 80-64, to post their second straight triumph in Group A of the senior division.

JRU-B turned back Letran-B, 69-62, for their first win in Group A.

The Adamson Baby Falcons drew 19 points from Evan Agbong in beating La Salle-Greenhills B, 85-63, while Chiang Kai Shek College downed LSGH-A, 85-66.

The Chiefs found the right moment to move ahead, and on baskets by Kenneth Zamora and Gupilan towards the end of the third, 56-51.

They then gained a comfortable eight-point cushion in the start of the final canto off Richard Abanes’ drive, 58-51.