Letran Squire Rey Nambatac shines in SeaOil HS All-Star Game

Letran High School's Rey Nambatac was named MVP behind his 20-point, six-rebound, six-assist and five-steal outing, as he sparked the Light team to a 92-78 victory in the second NBTC High School All-Star Game, held at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City on Sunday.

The Light team selection was composed of Andre Paras (LSGH), Reggie Morrido of NU, Axel Inigo of San Beda, Jeson Delfinado of FEU, Hope Christian's Ed Villanueva and Clint Doliguez, NU's Ralph Busa, Kimlee Bayquin, Carlo Young, and Wilson Bartolome of Chang Kai Shek, Paul Desiderio of University of Visayas (Cebu), Yozi Manguilimotan of Emar Learning Center Davao, Kraniel Villoria of WNY Bacolod, and Raymond Andico of Southern City College Zamboanga.

The Dark team, on the other hand, had Mario Bonleon of LSGH, Jeric Adorio of Sun Yat Sen Iloili, Gabriel Araw-Araw from SHS-Ateneo de Cebu, Alwin Margallo of Adamson, Raphael Atangan and Levi Dela Cruz from NU, Roger Domingo from FEU, Neil Agustin from Southern City College Zamboanga, Bong Quinto of the Letran Squires, Jerie Pingoy from FEU, Jeric Diego from Mapua, Jon Macasaet from San Sebastian, Kyles Lao from Xavier, Jefher Egan from St. Mary's Cagayan de Oro, and Ricky Peromingan from Bukidnon Faith Christian School.

The Light selection opened up the game with a flurry of points thanks to their running game. NU's Reggie Morido led his side with five points in a 13-2 run, before a Nambatac trey made it 16-14 early in the first.

After a five-man substitution by both squads, the Dark team leaned on the reportedly UE-bound Mario Bonleon for offense. Bonleon playing point-forward, relied on isolation plays for his own 6-0 spurt. With the white team settling for outside shots that didn't fall, Bonleon finally tied the game at 23-all.

The Dark team grabbed the lead for a moment in the second quarter after Sun Yat Sen Iloilo's Jeric Adorio's hustle led to two points, but with the re-insertion of the Light starting five, Axel Inigo of San Beda and Morido re-established a double-digit lead anew, before SHS-Ateneo de Cebu's Gabriel Araw-Araw ended the half with a trey, 44-36.

The long halftime break looked to have energized the Dark team, as they clawed back into the game to cut the lead to one after a split from the line by Bonleon, 46-45, but FEU's Jeson Delfinado went on to have a 4-0 run of his own to make some space, 50-45.

It became a Delfinado against Bonleon showdown for a moment as the game was tied at 54-all, but Adamson's Alwin Margallo would end the period strong to give the Dark team the advantage, 67-61.

The fourth period surge by the Light team was anchored on Nambatac and Inigo. A pair of baskets from the NCAA Mythical Five selection cut the lead to three, 72-69, before Delfinado tied the game at 72-all.

An Inigo fast break conversion, a trey, coupled with an and-one play finally put the Light team ahead, 77-75, before a pair of free throws from Nambatac, followed by a three, made it 84-76 with 2:26 remaining. Another drive followed by a jumper from the Letran High standout at the 1:24 mark then iced the game for the light team, 92-78. - AMD, GMA News

The scores:

Light - Nambatac 20, Morrido 15, Inigo 15, Bayquin 9, Delfinado 9, Doliguez 7, Paras 4, Andico 4, Young 3, Bartolome 2, Desiderio 2, Busa 2, Villanueva 0, Manguilimotan 0, Villoria 0

Dark - Bonleon 16, Pingoy 11, Margallo 10, Diego 7, Macasaet 6, Lao 6, Peromingan 6, Adorio 4, Araw-Araw 3, Dela Cruz 3, Domingo 2, Atangan 2, Quinto 2, Agustin 0, Egan 0

Quarter scoring: 23-23, 44-36, 61-67, 92-78