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| Amiel Acido went perfect from the field for UST against Tenri. Jade Moya |
PASIG—NCAA contenders Jose Rizal University and San Beda and UAAP representative University of Santo Tomas drew first blood in the NSAC World Invitational on Friday at the PhilSports Arena.
The big cats dealt their respective opponents from Northeast Asia a sound beating, while the Heavy Bombers held on despite a gallant fight from Australia's Elite Stacks club.
JRU turned to its defense in the fourth quarter to beat Elite Stacks 71-66 in the opening game.
The Mandaluyong-based dribblers held their foes from down under scoreless in the last 3:46 of the game, while Allan Laurenaria and Lawrence Mangubat spearheaded the game-ending 11-0 run to steal the win.
Mangubat finished with 22 points on 7 of 14 shooting, two rebounds, and one steal, while Sean Salvador added 14 points, two rebounds, and two steals for JRU.
Akok Machar led Elite Stacks with 22 points, six rebounds, three assists, and four steals, but he too had six turnovers.
Adamson player Noah Pacquiao had six points, six rebounds, and one assist off the bench.
Meanwhile, San Beda turned things around in the last three quarters to beat National Formosa University 78-65.
Down 17-24 after the first period, the Red Lions outscored the Tiger Kings in the last three, 61-41, to pull away in the end.
RC Calimag led San Beda with 16 points, going 3-for-5 from deep, one rebound, and one assist, while Aldous Torculas added 15 points on a perfect 5-for-5 on two-point shots, five rebounds, and one block.
Justin Hawkins led NFU with 16 points, four rebounds, one steal, and one block, but he committed five errors.
UST capped the early Filipino onslaught with an 88-65 rout of Tenri University.
Collins Akowe and Amiel Acido led UST, which quickly pulled away from the get-go, with 17 markers each.
Acido went a perfect 6-for-6 from the field.
Jerry Williams put up 23 points, 11 rebounds, and four steals for Tenri.
With the Heavy Bombers and Growling Tigers sealing a Saturday showdown in the upper bracket semifinals, at least one Filipino team is now assured of making the championship game on Sunday.
Far Eastern University could complete an all-Filipino Final 4 if it beats Japan B.League One side Fighting Eagles Nagoya later Friday.
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