PILI, Camarines Sur — Tinanghal na kampeon ang University of Perpetual Help System Dalta sa kauna-unahang Cam Sur Cup invitational basketball tournament.

Sa pangunguna nina player LA Casinillo at coach Olsen Racela, pinayuko ng Altas ang host team CamSur Express, 77-73, sa isang makapigil-hiningang winner-take-all title showdown sa Fuerte Sports Complex.

Sumandal ang Las Piñas-based Altas sa mainit na mga kamay ni Casinillo, na umiskor ng 23 points, upang masungkit ang korona sa week-long tournament na itinaguyod ng Armstrong Philippines sa pakikipagtulungan ng Camarines Sur government, sa ilalim ni Gov. Luigi Villafuerte.

Nahirang si Casinillo bilang Most Valuable Player.

Nakatuwang niya sina Patrick Sleat, na may 15 points, four rebounds at two steals, at Mark Gojo Cruz, na may 11 points para sa Altas, na naghahanda na para sa NCAA Season 101.

“We’re very happy to win this tournament here in Camarines Sur. This is a good experience for the players as we continue our buldup for the NCAA Season 101,” pahayag ni Racela, na napili ding Best Coach ng tournament.

Nanguna sina Rufino Sablaon III at Verman Magpantay sa losing effort ng Express sa kanilang 17 at 14 points.

Nag-ambag din sina Jerome Almario at Lloyd Jefferson Borbe ng 11 at 10 points para kay CamSur coach Genesius Molto Jr.

Samantala, binigo ng NAASCU champion St. Clare College of Caloocan ang Kuala Lumpur Hornbills ng Malaysia, 71-66, sa isa pang kapanapanabik na sagupaan upang maiuwi ang third place.

Nagpasiklab si Justine Bautista sa balanseng atake ng Caloocan-based Saints ni coach Jino Manansala sa kanyang 20 points, three rebounds, three steals, at two assists.

Nagdagdag naman si Joco Bojorcelo ng eight points habang nakatulong ang 6-10 Sudanese recruit na si Moses Mandiria sa kanyang seven points, 10 rebounds at three blocks.

Kapwa nag-ambag sina Leenard Desabelle at Lex Gazzingan ng tig six points.

Si Azbeel Singh Gill ang namuno sa Malaysia-based Hornbills sa kanyang 24 points at five rebounds para kay coach Adrian Wong.

Ang mga iskor:

First game

St. Clare (71) — Bautista 20, Bojorcelo 8, Mandiria 7, Desabelle 6, Gazzingan 6, Manzano 5, Lim 5, Ibanez 4, Dela Cruz 3, Escobido 3, Simbulan 2, Salazar 2, Loyola 0, Talavera 0.

KL Hornbills (66) — Singh Gill 24, T. Wei 13, Ding 10, Kang 8, Wai 5, Kian 3, Hong 1, Thung 0.

Quarterscores: 19-18, 40-36, 57-55, 71-66.

Second game

Perpetual Help (77) — Casinillo 23, Sleat 15, Gojo Cruz 11, Maglupay 7, Manuel 6, Boral 6, Alcantara 3, Tulabut 2, Nunez 2, Gelsano 2, Abis 0, Duremdes 0.

CamSur (73) — Sablaon III 17, Magpantay 14, Almario 11, Borbe 10, Masinas 6, E. Mallapre 6, Redondo 4, Acabado 3, Rito 2, Dela Cruz 0.

Quarterscores: 25-22, 39-37, 63-60, 77-73.