Back-to-back win for SJI cagers
in U16 Nat’l Juniors tournament

Againstthe taller and heftier bulk of their rivals, St. John’s Institute managed to pull off a 99-91 victory over University of Visayas (Cebu), then went on to blow away St. Agnes Academy ofAlbay, Bicol 95-45, to register a back-to-back win at the Pilipinas National Juniors Championship Under 16 basketball tournament at University of Baguio Gym in Baguio City.

Kirrel Brahndon Montalbo scored 40 points against UV, 13 of them in the fourth quarter as the SJI Falcons clawed back from a 15-point fourth quarter deficit and erased an 11-point UV lead in the final four minutes to force an onvertime after regulation ended at 84-all.

Backing him up was Jai Arroyo, who finished with 28 points, 9 of them in the fourth quarter, despite the towering threat from UV whose four players were at least standing at least 6 feet 3.