Former West Negros College Mustang Sivirino "Nonoy" Baclao is officially part of Philippine collegiate basketball's fiercest rivalry.

The 6-foot-4 Baclao provided quality minutes for the Ateneo De Manila University last night when the Blue Eagles registered a pulsating 80-77 overtime victory over arch-rival De La Salle University before an overflowing crowd at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. Baclao, who sat out the past year to comply with the residency requirement, scored 5 points, hauled 7 rebounds and a block in 15 minutes of action.

He was also on the court during the crucial stretches of the game and provided the pick for teammate Jai Reyes to create a play for a wide-open Chris Tiu, who knocked in a triple from the corner with 12 seconds left in overtime that proved to be the game's biggest basket.

Before yesterday's game, Baclao, who hails from Barangay Bata, averaged 3.5 points and 5.7 rebounds in four outings. Ateneo improved to 4-1, after the win against La Salle.

Baclao, who was part of the starting five in three games, will play against his former WNC teammates Sunny Abaring and John Blargs Alisbo, who are now with the Far Eastern University, on Sunday.

The three players' stock increased when they helped West Negros win the National Students Basketball Championship title in Bicol in March 2006 and the National University Games crown in October 2005.

Two other Negrenses playing in the UAAP are still in search for their first victories.

Roel Hugnatan, younger brother of PBA star Reynel Hugnatan, posted a UAAP career-high 32 points for Adamson University in a losing effort against defending champion Sto. Tomas last week.

His teammate Leo Canuday is also posting decent numbers for the Falcons, who have suffered four straight losses to open the season, a year after making the Final Four.

Meanwhile, John Michael Noble, a former WNC Baby Mustang, is also making heads turn while playing for the Colegio San Juan de Letran Squires in the NCAA Juniors' Tournament.

The 6-foot-3 center, who has been turning in double-double numbers, showed his immense potential by coming up with 29 and 30 points, respectively in the past two games.

The lone Negrense seeing action in the NCAA Senior's tournament is former University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos Ram Nathaniel Salanga, who plays for University of Perpetual Help. *CPT

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