ADRIAN Monteclar and Ivan Espina combined for 44 points to lift the Panthers past the Stallions, 87-78, in the first day of the Elite Basketball Club Cebu – Sinulog Cup last Sunday night at the Visayas Glass Gym in Guadalupe.
Monteclar finished with 23 points, while Espina added 21 markers.
It was not an easy feat for the defending champion Panthers as they had to overcome a 56-53 Stallions’ lead entering the fourth quarter before finishing them off in the dying seconds.
The Stallions were led by Malvin Malicdem and Loreniel Tequin with 21 and 18 points, respectively.
In the second game, the Wolverines trounced the Eagles, 55-40.
Rechie Alcala, Lorenzo Bacaltos, and Emil Gabuya scored 15, 13 and 11 points, respectively for the Wolverines.
In the final game of the opening day, the Seahawks beat the Bulldogs, 72-64.