PHOENIX, Meralco and Converge downed their respective foes to stay unbeaten in the 2024 Batang PBA-Centrum Kids 15-under tournament on Tuesday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Phoenix fended off Blackwater, 78-64, to assume the lead in Group A with its second straight win in as many games while Meralco and Converge also improved to 2-0 record to share the lead in Group B.
The Batang Bolts drubbed Rain or Shine, 63-52, while Converge hacked out a gutsy 69-65 win over Ginebra.
Simone Jacob "Sky" Jazul followed his 29-point effort in Phoenix's 82-52 win against San Miguel Beer by scoring 23 points against the Batang Bossing.
Ethan Tan-Chi and Francis Castro backstopped Jazul with 19 and 14 points, respectively, as Phoenix spoiled Prince Cabog's 38-points effort, a tournament-high.
Sponsored content: Meantime, Jude Vidallo scored 15 and Isaiah Regala contributed 10 as the Batang Bolts clobbered NorthPort, 67-44 for its first win.
Prince Cari?o tallied 18 points while Ian San Gabriel chipped in 11 for the Batang FiberXers, who also routed the Batang Pier, 98-51 in its debut.
In the other 15-Under match, Magnolia bounced back with an 84-73 win over NLEX following its 77-48 debur loss to San Miguel Beer in Group A.
Meanwhile, Julian Baliwag exploded for 36 points as Meralco trounced Terrafirma, 74-67, in the lone 13-Under match for its first win in Group B.
The Scores:
Sponsored content: First Game (15-UNDER)
Meralco 63 - Vidallo 15, Regala 10, Calderon 7, Lim 6, Custodio 6, Membrot 4, Lugtu 4, Miguel 4, Garcia 3, Anonuevo 2, Mariano 1, Ghazwan 0, Garabato 0, Asauro 0, Fontanilla 0.
Rain or Shine 52 - Gavino 14, Griffiths 14, Dahia 6, Zamuco 5, Iporac 5, Garcia 4, Padilla 2, Cruz N. 2, Panumo 0, Mendoza0, Alegre 0, Cuello 0, Cruz V. 0, Vives 0, Oliveros 0.
Quarterscores: 20-4, 29-23, 57-36, 63-52.
Second Game (15-UNDER)
Converge 69 - Carino 18, San Gabriel 11, Datu 8, Victoria 6, Nunag 6, Basilan 6, Padilla 4, San Buenaventura 4, Evangelista 4, Mendez 2, Basa 0, Ortiz 0, Cabalonga 0, Bernardo 0, Chan 0.
Ginebra 65 - Paraiso 18, Navarro 16, Deang 11, Francisco 6, Espinoza 4, Evangelista 2, Capiral 2, Diwa 2, Rosal 2, Pineda 2, Cabarles 0, De Veyra 0, Lumanta 0, Pilapil 0, Ortiz 0.
Quarterscores: 24-16, 44-26, 62-40, 69-65.
Third Game (13-UNDER)
Meralco 74 - Baliwag Ju. 36, Maniquis 14, Loya 10, Ampo 7, Tottoc 5, Gumatay 1, Jacinto 1, Baliwag Jo. 0, Cruz 0, Geronimo 0, Santos 0, Saplala 0.
Terrafirma 67 - Garces 16, De Guzman 16, Danao 11, Centeno 6, Batac 6, Torres C. 4, Palaganas 3, Flores 3, Loria 2, Coronel 0, Maitem 0, Gadong 0, Torres M. 0, Reyes 0.
Quarterscores: 18-5, 31-27, 55-45, 74-67.
Fourth Game (15-UNDER)
Magnolia 84 - Mangrobang 26, Diaz 14, Fallorina 12, Costan 10, Bundalian 7, Balao 5, Batu 0, Llemos 2, Jimenez 2, Salamatin 2, Montemor 2, Turla 0, Franco 0, Aranillo 0.
NLEX 73 - Delfin 24, Licanto 12, Francisco 10, Asejo 8, Adap 8, Perez 5, Rebano 4, Jacinto 2, Sardea 0, Dela Cruz 0, Alvarer 0, Manlapaz 0, Rolloque 0, Macarasig 0.
Quarterscores: 30-12, 42-24, 61-47, 84-73.
Fifth Game (15-UNDER)
Phoenix 78 - Jazul 23, Tan-Chi 19, Castro F. 14, Dizon 6, Deato 5, Lee 3, Usog 3, Castro G. 2, Dalag 2, Bustria 1, Banate 0, Sorongon 0.
Blackwater 64 - Cabog 38, Denina 7, Magtoto 6, Bantillo 5, Ramos 4, Esguerra 2, Basinilio 2, Fernandez J. 0, Fernandez G. 0, Ferry 0, Precilla 0, Racelis 0.
Quarterscores: 27-10, 45-24, 53-51, 78-64.
