HULKING Zanjo, the import of Red House Taiwan Shabu Shabu/UNO-R, was unstoppable with 49 points to win Game 1 of the Negros Basketball Association President's Cup, 80-74, over Silver Dragon/Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias last night at Po Hang gym of Bacolod Tay Tung High School.
Jeff Manday got away with 28 points for CSAV while Jeric Adorio and Junior Essakadualla added 14 and 11 markers, respectively but came up short for its second straight loss to UNO-R which beat them in the opening game on April 14.
Red House was up 37-35 at the half as Manday heaved a late three-pointer and continued to stay in front at 60-55 at the end of the third canto despite Manday's 14-point output.
CSAV slowly inched its way to tie at 64-all on Boy Soliva's jumper but it was the last Silver Dragon's reply as Zanjo scored 12 points at will underneath to frustrate Coach Elvis Atinado who found no cure for mentor Gerom Aledron's star.
In the game for third place, Supreme ABF Silvergraces Construction came up strong at crunch time to beat YBAC/ESJ/Fyr Fyter, 96-92.
Game 2 is set on Saturday at 5 p.m. with CSAV expected to find an antidote to neutralize Zanjo under the boards.
