By James Sablan
james@mvariety.com
NEW Summit LLC added another win to its record in the Madflex–ESports Unity Cup U18 Basketball Tour 2025 after narrowly escaping Protech, 68-63, on Sunday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
New Summit controlled the pace for most of the opening half. Santos and Ansus powered the offense, with the scoring duo going on a rampage. Santos’s ability to finish at the rim was unmatched, constantly punishing defenders in the paint, while Ansus stretched the floor with a pair of three-pointers to keep defenses guessing.
Protech responded with solid teamwork, using screens and backdoor cuts to generate looks at the basket. But a series of missed shots and turnovers caused them to fall behind by as many as 12 points. Despite their offensive struggles, Protech shifted to man-to-man defense in the final five minutes of the half and found success. The pressure forced New Summit into several turnovers, which Pangelinan and company turned into easy fast-break points, cutting the deficit to 36-31 at halftime.
The battle for control continued throughout the second half, with both teams evenly matched. T. Joab kept Protech’s momentum alive, catching fire with 14 points — including three treys — while his teammates contributed to keep the game close.
Despite the late surge, New Summit held its ground. Lopez and Ansus combined for 15 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half to maintain the lead, while Santos returned to close out the game with 12 points of his own, sealing the 68-63 victory.
In the second game of the night, Blue Haus cruised past Hardt Eye, 85-69.
