Defending champion Wang's Ballclub and Manuel Luis Quezon University on Friday came through with similar easy victories over their respective rivals in the 2010 MBL Invitational (Second Conference) Basketball tournament at the RTU gym in Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong City.
Wang's overwhelmed Rizal Technological University, 104-95, while MLQU crushed Philippine Air Force, 110-78, to gain a share of the lead with 3-1 win-loss cards in this nine-team tournament supported by Smart Communicaitons, Dickies Underwear and PRC Managerial Services.
Five mainstays, led by American missionary Joshua Manthe, scored in double figures for the Mandaluyong-based squad of businessman-sportsman Alex Wang.
Manthe, a 6-8 center who once played for Kansas in the U.S. NCAA, asserted himself with 21 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks for Wang's, which bounced back from a heart-breaking 79-81 setback to Hobe Bihon last Tuesday.
Former Letran College standout Jonathan Pinera added 18 points and 12 rebounds, Jerry Orera contributed 15 points, Romer Diaz had 14 points for Wang's.
Ex-PBA standouts Biboy Simon and Jonathan Aldave contributed 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Tristan Pagente carried the fight for the Blue Thunder with 22 points, followed by Alloiyn Elinon with 17 points, Mark Trinidad with 15 points and Goy Bagares with 13 points.
The Stallions of coach Sherman Crisostomo and sports director Ceasar Rivera drew balanced scoring attack from Eric Dizon, Paul Gile, Dan Uduba, Joseph Uduba and Kenneth Lee to deal the Airmen their fourth straight setback.
Dizon, a 5-10 high-flying guard, finished with 16 points for the Stallions, who are being personally managed by noted sports patron Ma. Victoria Chan.
Phillippine Air Force, which is playing under Lt. Gen. Oscar H. Rabena and PAF Group Commander Col. Werner M. Elpedes and coach Alvin Zuniga, were led by Ryan Javier and Manuel Duenas with 16 and 12 points.
The scores:
First game
MLQU (110) -- Dizon 16, D. Uduba 14, Gile 13, J. Uduba 10, Lee 10, Sumayang 9, Custodio 7, Manalansan 6, Celso 6, Manalili 6, Urbano 5, Rivera 4, Mendoza 2, Parapa 2.
Air Force (78) -- Javier 16, Duenas 12, Tongio 9, Idanan 8, Fernandez 6, Tordilla 6, Mislang 4, Bandong 3, Jimenez 2, Torres 2, Reglos 2, Pascual 2, Taneza 2, Javier 2, Tanalon 2.
Quarterscores: 23-10; 52-23; 79-78; 110-78.
Second game
Wang's Ballclub (104) -- Manthe 21, Pinera 18, Orera 15, Diaz 14, Simon 12, Aldave 10, Legaspi 5, Reyes 4, R. Litonjua 3, D. Litonjua 3, Regalado 2, Sacay 0, Martinez 0, Cataquiza 0.
RTU (95) -- Pagente 22, Elinon 17, Trinidad 15, Bagares 13, Cruz 9, Brana 8, Vivo 7, Basilio 2, Quiro 2, Balasote 0, Malabanan 0.
Quarterscores: 26-22; 56-39; 85-71; 104-95. (PNA)
