AGUSAN DEL SUR – Bustamante Construction-Adamson and ARQ Builders-FEU made emphatic statements on Tuesday with convincing wins to open the Mayor Kirk Asis Open Invitational Basketball Tournament.
The Soaring Falcons easily dispatched Wingbe Apartelle & Adbio Medica OPC, 81-52, while the Tamaraws shook off a slow start to blow out Vincare Pharma-LPU, 86-68, at Lope Asis Memorial Gymnasium in Bayugan City.
Matty Erolon erupted for 23 points to power Adamson as Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Jerom Lastimosa was happy to pick his spots and finished with eight points, three assists, and three steals in limited action.
“We always preach to take advantage of every opportunity to learn and grow and this is one of those,” said coach Nash Racela as his side warded off a selection team led by former Southwestern University big man Landry Sanjo.
On the other hand, FEU woke up from a lethargic start and leaned on Cholo Anonuevo’s 13 points and James Tempra’s 12 to clip the Pirates.
“Dumepensa lang talaga kami. Pagod pa yung players at nag-adjust pa sa atmosphere pero masaya kami na nanalo,” said coach Denok Miranda.
Renz Villegas and Jae Omandac paced the Pirates with 12 points each in the losing effort.
The action heats up on Wednesday when all four teams play two games each, with only the top two advancing to the championship game on Thursday.
The champion of the invitational tilt, sponsored by Bayugan Mayor Kirk Asis and Vice Mayor Kim Lope Asis and is organized by Van Halen Parmis, will bag the P300,000 cash prize, with the second placer taking home P200,000, third placer P150,000, and fourth placer P100,000.
