NCRAA baketball: ACSAT beats Olivarez College, 86-73

Games Monday San Andres Gym 9 a.m. Arellano University vs PSBA 10:30 a.m. NCBA vs La Salle-Dasmarinas 12 noon ACSAT vs PUP 1:30 p.m. St. Francis vs UDM

Host Asian College of Science and Technology (ACSAT) relied on a torrid start to demolish Olivarez College, 86-73, Saturday at the opening of the 14th Petron-National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) men's basketball tournament at the Olivarez Sports Center. Harvey Igtos sparked the Lightnings with eight of his nine-point game total in the first quarter. Then Nico Pupos and Lito Casil took over from the perimeter for a 26-10 edge with 1:10 left before half time. "Gumana iyung outside shooting. Maski na nanlamig kami sa depensa sa third quarter, bumalik pa rin ang intensity sa huli (Our outside shooting worked. Though our defense was loose in the third quarter, we got our intensity back in the last quarter)," Lightnings coach Ricky Alcantara said. Welland Muñoz powered the Lightnings with 22 points, while Pupos contributed 18 in the 11-school tournament. In the other game, Ronjay Buenafe produced 26 points for the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, who struggled to a 69-63 win over of PATTS School of Aeronautics. Buenafe's consistent drive and scoring from the rainbow country in the last eight minutes kept the Sea Horses' late charge in check and allowed the Generals to stay in front, 58-49. The Lightnings played without center Ryan Agapito, who quit the team before the season started. But the intimidating presence of 6'5" slotmen Jerome de Guzman and Noel Cabaybay allowed the Lightnings to stay out of trouble. Rookie center JR Gaco, the younger brother of former La Salle standout Gerwin Gaco, had a rousing debut under the boards in the final period as he swatted several attempts by the Sea Lions to launch a rally in the closing minutes. - GMANews.TV