STI WNU chalks up win #2 against STI College Las Pinas

Renz Solomon limited minutes maximum output

Defending champion STI West Negros University started the game with their second stringers to rest their first five and faced a hot shooting STI College Las Pinas team in the first quarter but eventually got back with plenty to spare to win 87 – 69. STI West Negros grabbed their second win to pace Group A on the second day of the STI National Basketball Tournament National Finals at the Eusebio H. Tanco Gym at STI College Ortigas-Cainta.

Mark Ruallo on the fastbreak

STI College Las Pinas waxed hot in the first quarter as Mark Joshua Ruallo combined with Jerico Nograles and the comeback Paolo Negrido to seize the first quarter 25 – 17.  Ruallo had 10 points after shooting 2 for 5 from beyond the arc while Nograles had 7 and Negrido 5 points. Unfortunately for them, their glory was short lived as STI WNU sent in their MVP candidate Renz Solomon to lead a furious second quarter comeback for STI WNU.

Paulo Pontevedra scores on this drive to the basket

Renz Solomon, STI WNU’s  shifty point guard, orchestrated a vicious STI WNU comeback that saw them outscore STI College Las Pinas 31 – 10 in the second quarter. Solomon scored 12 points, had two assists and two steals in eight minutes of action as he connived with Roiuchi Belocura, Ronel Panogadia and Zane Carumba as STI WNU’s offense went full throttle.

Christian Rico is contained by the STI WNU defense

STI College Las Pinas on the other started to miss shots, were forced to turn the ball over and had a hard time containing the pressure defense of the STI West Negros team. Come the third quarter STI WNU Coach Dennis Tumayan did not let Solomon play again which resulted in a Las Pinas 16 point quarter that eneded with STI WNU still on top 61 – 51. Then when Solomon came in all changed and STI College Las Pinas sensed the inevitable.

Jaycee Adjie scores unmolested

Solomon, together with Charry Cadase, Jaycee Adjie and Belocura ran rings around their Las Pinas counterparts to secure their win. STI College Las Pinas was missing the services of top gunner Leo Merced and was not able to sustain their high octane offense from start to finish as they tasted their first loss in this tournament. STI College Las Pinas needs to beat their next opponent to be able to make it to the Final Four.

Ronel Panogadia is left open for a jumper

The Scores

STI WEST NEGROS (87)

Solomon 19, Carumba 11, Belocura 10, Dunlap 8, Panogadia 8, Adjei 8, Garde 6, Pontevedra 6, Cadase 5,   Carmona 2, Astorga 2, Tan Jr. 2 ,

STI COLLEGE LAS PIÑAS (69)

Ruallo  24, Apachicha  13, Negrido  13, Nograles 9, de la Cruz  4, Rico 4, Gutay 2, Salvia  0, Ocampo 0,  

Quarter scores: 17 – 25, 48 – 35, 61 – 51, 87 – 69,