Red Cubs, Lady Pirates open Fr. Martin tourney with victories

The San Beda-A Red Cubs and the Lyceum Philippines University Lady Pirates eked out contrasting wins Sunday at the start of the 18th Fr. Martin Summer Cup basketball tournament.

The Red Cubs, playing with only three holdovers, raced to a 25-point first quarter advantage and walloped the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs, 119-58, in the junior division at the Dom Placid gymnasium inside the San Beda College-Mendiola campus.

The LPU Lady Pirates banked on the heroics of Frances Mae Cabinbin in upsetting reigning University Athletic Association of the Philippines champion, Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, 60-58, in the women’s side.

Javee Mocon showed the way for the Britt Reroma-coached Red Cubs with 15 points, and his efforts enabled the Mendiola-based dribblers to take the early junior leadership.

They share the lead with the Adamson Baby Falcons and the Central Luzon champions, the Jesus is Lord Christian Fellowship squad.

The Baby Falcons came away with a 68-53 whipping of the National College of Business and Arts Wildcats, and the JILCF side waylaid the Jose Rizal University Light Bombers, 68-53.

Cabinbin hit 28 points, and made five crucial points in the dying minutes to key in the Lady Pirates’ triumph.

The Lady Pirates share the women’s lead with the comebacking Ateneo Lady Eagles, who got a total of 34 points from Val Chua, Sarah Mercado and Ish Tiu in blasting the Our Lady of Fatima University Lady Phoenix, 66-55.

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