Kirell Brahndon Montalbo capped his 35 points performance with a winning layup as Basecom stole the victory from Royal Star Trading, 92-91, in the Fil-Sino All Asian Countertrade 2nd Conference Inter-Color Basketball Tournament at the Bacolod Tay Tung High School Po Hang Gym.

JSY Countertrade notched its first victory at the expense of AACI Trading, 101-77.

The cat-quick breakaway layup from Montalbo with 11 seconds left gave Basecom its only lead in the second half as Ritchie Militante completed the comeback with a block on an undergoal stab by Royal’s Charlton Ong with four seconds left.

Down by three points at 19-16 in the first quarter, Royal Star turned to Nico Lopingco and Jordan Chua who both responded with 15 and 9 points, respectively, to lead Royal Star Trading to a 42-41 halftime lead even as Ren Ren Lacson scored 16 points for Basecom.

Montalbo then made his move in the third quarter and scored 14 points but Lopingco continued to deliver for Roya with teammate Chief Supt. Adonis Rosales hitting 8 points each to extend the lead to 76-66.

Moving well without the ball, Charlton Ong had several point blank shots as he scored 9 points in the payoff quarter to keep Basecom at bay with a 14-point lead with six minutes left in the game.

But a shift to a halfcourt man-to-man defense did wonders to Basecom as Montalbo and Lacson combined to finished several fastbreak opportunities.

Lacson added 25 points for Basecom, John Dustin Chua shot 13 points and Richard Co hit 10 points.

Lopingco dropped 27 points in a losing effort, Charlton Ong added 20, Rosales delivered 11, Cris Javelosa and Cris Vargas had 7 points each.

In the second game, JSY Countertrade established a commanding 35-11 opening quarter lead led by the trio of Robbie Jalando-on , Bong Palo and Roger Montalbo.

AACI Trading was able to outscore JSY in the next two quarters as they cut the deficit to 17 points as Victor Go scored 14 points and Mark Binguan and Errrol Su contributing two treys each. Wilson Dy and Jan jan Lopue combined for 23 points as they held the fort for JSY.

Danny Boy Uy delivered 10 points for AACI Trading but it was not enough to keep up with Palo and Jalando-on with 16 and 8 points, respectively, as they extended the lead to 30 points.

Jalando-on had a game-high 28 points, Palo added 24, Dy shot 18 points, Lopue with 15 points and Roger Montalbo had 9 points.

Uy paced Trading with 20 points, Go scored 18, Binguan with 15, and Luigi Coo, 10 points.

Tonight’s game at 7 p.m. will feature Basecom against Organic while AACI Transport will face Royal Star Trading in the second game.*with a report from Stephen Tan

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