May 07, 2023

Batang PBA: Let the games begin

THE 2023 Batang PBA took the wraps off on Sunday after being shelved for three years due to the pandemic with Barangay Ginebra opening its campaign with a landslide victory, 106-34, over Rain or Shine in the Under-12 Division as sons of current and former PBA players strut their stuff in style at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.

All players scored for the Gin Kings led by Zion Aguilar with 20 points. He got a lot of support from Sky Jazul (10), Sam Paras (8), Elvin Pascual (5) and Cassius Norwood (4).

The quartet are proud sons of Rain or Shine's Gabe Norwood, Phoenix's RJ Jazul, NLEX's Jake Pascual and only PBA Rookie-MVP Benjie Paras.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial welcomed all the participants and declared the tournament open.

Other sons of pro cagers were Carlos Miguel Victolero (son of Magnolia mentor Chito), and Mick Pingris (son of former Purefoods star Marc) who teamed up for the PBA Stalwarts team which went down in defeat against Cavitex, 60-61, in the Under-14 division.

Sponsored content:
In the other 14-and-under match, Purefoods tops Ginebra, 74-67, behind the exploits of Gab Reyes and Ziv Espinas.

The PBA Greats, meanwhile, drubbed the PBA Stalwarts, 55-38, in the other U-12 match.

Twenty teams are entered in both the 14-under and 12-under divisions.

Both divisions are divided into four groups of five. The top two teams in each group after the single round eliminations will advance to the crossover quarterfinals. Winners will march to the knockout semis finals. (JBU)

The Scores:

Sponsored content:
First Game (U14)

Ginebra 106 - Aguilar 20, Jazul 10, Javier 9, Paras 8, Ngo 8, Banate 6, Juangco 6, San Miguel 6, Pascual 5, Gonzales 4, Gan 4, Hwang 4, Norwood 4, Galang 2, Evangelista 2.

Rain or Shine 34 - Balangue 12, Macatlang 12, Wong 7, Oliva 1, Cuya 1, Rodrigo 1, Doctor 0, Mangalindan 0, Ladaban 0, Roduta 0, Manalo 0, Dionisio 0, Chua 0, De Leon 0, Oliva 0.

Quarterscores: 34-4, 64-5, 84-16, 106-34

Second Game (U12)

PBA Greats 55 - Dumana 10, Pascual 9, Halili 8, De Guzman 4, Tabu 4, Casams 4, Bonotano 4, D. Dizon 3, Masangya 3, Buen 2, X. Dizon 2, Panganiban 0, Arma 0, Paraiso 0, Santos 0.

PBA Stalwarts 38 - G. Medina 12, Martinez 5, Gudez 4, Pe?amente 4, Raynera 3, Villarin 3, Roxas 3, Luna 2, Marco 2, Zafran 2, Dela Rosa 0, Ylarde 0, J. Medina 0, Maniquis 0.

Quarterscores: 23-11, 39-19, 46-27, 55-38

Third Game (U14)

Purefoods 74 - Pasinos 16, Cagurungan 14, Espina 11, Reyes 9, Paras 8, Martin 5, Kallos 4, Santos 2, Favis 2, Molina 2, Lopez 0, Tagudin 0, Coronel 0, Pineda 0.

Ginebra 67 - E. Pascual 12, Aseldo 10, Tailan 10, Dulin 8, Reonista 7, Magan 5, Paca?a 3, Tan 3, Catapang 3, T. Pascual 2, Mendoza 2, Angeles 2, Miranda 0, Cari?o 0, Smith 0, Arzola 0.

Quarterscores: 24-12, 38-25, 48-54, 74-67

Fourth Game (U14)

Cavitex 61 - Tulabut 9, Vitug 8, Dela Cruz 8, Sison 7, Hugo 7, Lagman 6, Aguilar 4, Angeles 4, Quinto 4, Zarata 2, Buco 2, Pingul 2, Castro 1, Pe?a 0, Guinto 0.

PBA Stalwarts 60 - Victolero 19, Bungar 12, De Guzman 8, Villavicencio 6, Hernandez 5, Ortega 3, Tulusan 3, Santos 2, Antonio 2.

Quarterscores: 18-22, 28-38, 44-43, 61-60.