DEFENDING champion Immaculada Concepcion College opened its title-retention bid in style, beating Asian Institute of Maritime Studies, 86-62, in the 31st NCRAA basketball tournament at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

Six players, led by Felix Corpuz, scored in double figures for the Caloocan City-based Blue Hawks of coach Ogie Gumatay.

Corpuz finished with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, and four rebounds in 17 minutes of play for the Blue Hawks, who controlled the tempo of the game.

Alfred Flores, Totoy Ramirez, Jared Vento, and Aljin Gadin contributed 10 points apiece.

Vento also had eight rebounds and four assists while Flores had nine assists and four rebounds.

Karlos Lapira and Gushtin Gurrea led the losing effort of the Blue Sharks of coach Darwin Dela Punta with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Gurrea also had 10 rebounds.

Ric Munsayac added 12 points and six rebounds.

Earlier, Gio Santiago sizzled with a game-high 31 points to lead the De La Salle University-Dasmarinas to a convincing 84-68 victory over University of Luzon.

Santiago went 13-of-19 shooting and two assists in 28 minutes of action for the Patriots of coach Tito Reyes.

Rogelio Calagos added a near triple-double of 17 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds while Andrei Delos Reyes contributed a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Jhomel Sansano spearheaded the losing effort for the Dagupan-based Golden Tigers of coach Kareem Vidal with 19 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals in 31 minutes of play.

Ventax Begenio and RJ Seco added nine and eight points, respectively.

Dondon Gallardo chipped in seven points.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya