Games today (Cebu Coliseum)

5:30 pm – USJ-R vs SIT

7 pm – USC vs ACT

THE Asian College of Technology Cyber Knights made up for their lackluster performance in their first outing, by beating the Salazar Institute of Technology Skyblazers, 90-84, in the Hotel Fortuna Cup 2, yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.

Crushed by the powerhouse Southwestern University Cobras, 97-83, in the main game last Tuesday, the Cyber Knights vented their ire on the Skyblazers on an incredible first half performance by Elmer Aparice to take a 46-36 lead in the second period. Aparice, a burly forward, tallied 19 points while wingman Joel Vistal had 13 before the halftime buzzer.

The lead ballooned to 14 in the third canto as Aparice continued his dominating showing by scoring four quick points, for a 57-43 tally. However, foul trouble sent him to the bench which opened the door for the Skyblazers, who jumped to an, 11-0 run, cutting the lead to just three, 63-66, heading into the final stanza.

SIT crept to within a basket, 81-83 with 2:26 remaining before the Cyber Knights finished the game with a 7-3 run, for their first win. Tempers ran afoul with 11.2 seconds left as SIT's Kenneth Tampus and Vistal got into a brief altercation, resulting in technical fouls on each player.

Aparice wound up with 28 points for ACT while Vistal added 21 points.

In last Tuesday's match, the SWU Cobras dominated the game from opening tip-off, and led by as much as 27 points, en route to the easy win. Clifford Maguate paced the Cobras with 23 points, while Alfred Belande and Eric Zanoria, had 19 and 16, respectively.

BOX SCORES:

ACT (90) Aparice 28, Vistal 21, Doy 10, Batiancila 9, Nunez 7, Dela Pena 6, Suico 5, Paraguya 4, Valencia 2

SIT (84) Calma 18, Tampus 15, Jabadan13, Gacramo 9, Amarado 6, Rabaya 6, Gabica 6, violango 5, Ong 2, Kintanar 2, Aribal 2 /Correspondent Jonas Panerio