CEBU, Philippines - The UV Lancers-manned Prime Asia Lending needed only a second- quarter surge to devour San Marino Tuna/CIT-U Wildcats, 91-73, for its fourth straight win in the Enervon CESAFI Partner's Cup 2013 men’s basketball tournament last night at the Cebu Coliseum.
From a sloppy 16-11 count after the first period, Prime Asia suddenly breathed fire in the second canto, with rookie Leonard Santillan and veteran pointguard John Abad drilling in two triples apiece for a 38-19 lead.
Abad later completed a three-point play and Cameroonian recruit Mike Harry Nzensseu delighted the spectators with a monstrous slam capping a 31-17 rally run that towed Prime Asia on top by a mile at halftime, 47-28.
Prime Asia further outscored San Marino in the third quarter, 27-21, to post an imposing 25-point bulge at 74-49 cushion going into the final 10-minute mark of the contest.
Prime Asia never looked back from thereon to firm up its grip of the solo lead with an unblemished 4-0 slate.
Wowie Escocio asserted his dominance at the paint to topscore for Prime Asia with 13 points followed by Abad and Nzensseu with 11 and 10 markers, respectively.
Allan Dimco had 18 points, but Joshua de la Cerna was held off to a paltry two points as San Marino dropped to its second loss against the same number of wins.
There was a record of sort for San Marino in the first quarter when Julius Tabalin scored all of their 11 points.
The scores
Prime Asia (91) - Escocio 13, Abad 11, Nzensseu 10, Babia 9, Perolino 8, Mendoza 7, Santillan 6, Fajardo 6, Codilla 5, Akomo 4, Oktobre 3, Arong 3
San Marino (73) - Dimco 18, Tabalin 11, Taboada 10, Menguito 9, Ebona 8, Pono 6, Brigoli 3, Booc 2, Taghoy 2, Graf 2, Dela Cerna 2
Halftime: 47-28 (GGM)