LINGAYEN - Western Visayas upset reigning titlist Northern Mindanao, 79-51, yesterday at the start of the National Private Schools and Athletics Association Games men's basketball tournament at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center basketball court here.

The Region VI quintet, majority of which is composed of standouts from West Negros College and University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, raced to a 21-10 advantage in the first quarter behind Severino Baclao's 5 points, before establishing a comfortable 40-24 lead at halftime.

"The win is a big morale booster because we defeated the defending champion. The chemistry of the team still needs improvement, but it will be better as the tournament goes on," Western Visayas coach Elvis Atinado, whose squad takes on Calabarzon at 12 noon today.

The balanced offensive attack of Region VI, was led by UNO-R's Joemarie Bayhon with 15 points, while Sonny Abaring chipped in 12 markers.

Backstopping the WV leading scorers were Virgil Baydo and Vengie Vergara with 11 points each as Baclao finished with 9 markers. Stanley Tizon contributed 8 points.

The men and women's volleyball squads of Region VI registered their second victories in as many games.

The WV men's team breezed to a 25-17, 25-17, 25-19 triumph over the Region IX spikers, while the Region VI volleybelles stunned reigning titlist Calabarzon, 25-17, 25-14, 13-25, 25-20.

In table tennis, the Region VI women's team bagged four silvers after bowing to Central Visayas in the finals, 2-0, while the male paddlers of Western Visayas claimed four bronzes for their third place finish.

Twelve more gold medals will be disputed in table tennis with the men and women's doubles, mixed doubles, and men and women's singles yet to be played.

The defending champion sepak takraw team of Region VI posted twin victories yesterday after blanking Bicol, 2-0, and Central Luzon, 2-0, as the men and women's badminton teams of Western Visayas also triumphed.*CIT

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