Cebu still unbeaten; Batangas City on a roll

Powerhouse Cebu continued to dominate the first round of the 2014 PBA Coca-Cola Youngstars National Finals Thursday, allowing its shock troopers to complete a 49-34 demolition of Cagayan de Oro at the JCSGO gym in Cubao.

Theo Joshua Flores fired 14 points and Orlan Wamar Jr. added 11 as Cebu, the Visayas qualifier, raced to a 20-6 first quarter advantage, weathered a third period fightback by Mindanao’s CdO and then went all out in the last 10 minutes in cruising to its fourth straight victory.

Batangas City, meanwhile, fortified its bid for a high seed in the semifinals by blasting National Capital Region’s ManilaKABAKA, 61-43, for its third consecutive win since dropping its first game.

The Southern Luzon champion was, however, on the defensive in the first three quarters, trailing at the end of each 10-minute period. But Raphael Jose Chavez, who unloaded 25 points, took over in the final frame to save the day for the Batanguenos.

In the third game, Pampanga, with Neil Jay Tolentino scoring 19 points, pounced on the late arrival of NCR most valuable player Carl Brian Lacap in handing Valenzuela a 54-34 beating and a second straight loss.

Lacap missed all but the last five minutes of the game to take the entrance examination at University of Santo Tomas which reportedly is recruiting the Valenzuela star for its junior team in the UAAP.