ROXAS CITY --- Shrugging off fatigue from its opening-match, defending champion Negros Occidental massacred Antique, 146-39, yesterday in the biggest victory of the men's basketball tournament of the 2007 Western Visayas Private Schools Athletic Association Meet at the Capiz Gymnasium here.

All 13 players fielded by West Negros College coach Dennis Tumayan scored 2 points or more as the Negrenses surpassed the 104-point victory of Iloilo over Antique Thursday.

The win was the Negrenses' second in a span of five hours. They routed Aklan, 91-64, yesterday morning behind WNC Mustangs Jomar Tan, Vengie Vergara and rookie Alfie Villariza, who combined for 36 points. But while the first two games were a breeze, Negros is expected to encounter rough sailing today when it battles unbeaten Iloilo at 10 a.m. today, before tackling Capiz at 5 p.m. Capiz and Iloilo are playing as of press deadline.

"We cannot afford to make mistakes today," Tumayan said.

Against Antique, another rookie, Paul Bacillote and Tan paced the Negros quintet with 25 and 22 points, respectively. Villariza also contributed 18 points. Tumayan sparingly used Vergara, giving his other role players more playing time. Among those maximizing their time on the floor was Ryan Flores, who scored 20 points in 20 minutes of action. Bernard Suante posted 15 points, all from beyond the arc, with Robert Lauron adding 9, and big men Arnold Gono, Paul Delfin and Sukrahj Sekhon combining for 16 more. *CPT

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