PSA Cup: Scribes essay 1st win; Solar Boys stay unscathed

MANILA, Philippines – The Smart Sports Scribes barged into the win column while the Capital1 Solar Boys remained unblemished through two games in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Cup on Tuesday, February 27, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

The Scribes built a lead that was huge enough to weather a late fightback and come away with an 84-76 win over Strong Group Athletics Press Row Bros. For their part, the Solar Boys did enough to keep a gritty Say Chiz Smileys at bay to take a 67-58 win. 

Julio Sampedro poured 16 of his 22 points in the first half, setting the tone for the Smarts Sports, which led by as many as 30 points in the contest.

But the dominant win didn’t come without a hitch as the Press Row Bros tried to mount a huge comeback in the fourth after outsourcing the scribes, 34-14.

The late fightback, however, proved futile as Smart Sports got some crucial hits from Reuben Terrado and AJ Bolando that sealed the win in the second week of the tournament, which is one of the projects of PSA president and STAR sports editor Nelson Beltran and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.

Sampedro also finished with 11 rebounds and six assists while Bolando added 22 points, five rebounds and three steals.

Eugine Flores paced Press Row Bros with 30 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Paul Lintag had 13 points and nine boards, while Diego dela Paz chipped in 13 markers and 15 rebounds.

Earlier in the Solar Boys’ win, four of their players reached double figures, with Aldo Aviñante and John Bryan Ulanday leading the attack with 21 and 19 points, respectively.

Delfin Dioquino contributed 13 points, while Christian Jacinto chipped 11 points. Both imposed their will inside, with the former also adding 15 rebounds and the latter hauling down 23 boards and swatting three shots. 

The Solar Boys — backed by Capital1 Solar Energy and Bulakan Mayor Vergel Meneses, and also supported by Uratex and Rebel — led by as many as 13 points in the first half. But the Smileys threatened and cut the lead down to just two, 55-53.

Capital1 regained footing after a 6-0 spurt, but Jeric Lopez and Cedelf Tupas managed to keep Say Chiz within striking distance

An Ulanday basket made it 63-56 before Aviñante and Dioquino put on the finishing touches for the Solar Boys.

Lopez had a double-double of 24 points and 16 rebounds apart from posting three steals. Tupas added 17 points and four boards, while Jonas Terrado logged 15 points, 17 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks.