By MARK REY MONTEJO
Team PSC emerged unscathed through four games while Team Manicad put on a strong finish to its campaign in the 2024 Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Cup Preseason Tournament at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Tuesday, Feb. 6.
Team PSC completed a sweet sweep with an 86-63 victory over Team Ochoa while Team Manicad edged Team Bonilla, 73-68 to end the preseason tiff that serves as a prelude to the scribes’ annual basketball tournament under PSA president Nelson Beltran of the Philippine Star.
Marco Ayuste, who fired 24 points, led PSC’s second half surge to mount a comfortable 84-46 lead that simply took the fight out of Team Ochoa.
Enzo Gregana backstopped him by tallying 17 points on top of seven rebounds and six assists while Ben Avila added 12 points and seven rebounds.
Despite the efforts of Jeric Lopez and rookie Niel Masoy of the Manila Times, PSC held its ground to keep the huge margin until the final horn.
Masoy posted 23 points while Lopez aided him with 19.
Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Jonas Terrado and Cedelf Tupas put up 10 and nine points, respectively, as Team Ochoa wrapped up its stint with a 2-2 slate.
Inspired by the splendid debut of Eugene Flores of One Sports, Team Manicad came through with the crucial hits down the stretch to stave off Team Bonilla and avoid a winless run in the preseason.
Flores erupted for 33 points apart from posting eight assists – most of them came during a telling 16-6 fini that helped his team overcome a 57-52 deficit early in the final frame.
Diego De La Paz had a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds while Josef Ramos had 10 markers and seven boards.
Philippine Star’s John Bryan Ulanday registered 24 points while Manila Bulletin’s Mark Rey Montejo had a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds to pace Team Bonilla which ended up tied with Team Manicad with similar 1-3 records.
The regular season begins next Tuesday, Feb. 13 with a rematch between Team Manicad and Team Bonilla while Team Ochoa faces up against a well-rested Team Catacutan at the same venue.
