UNIVERSITY of  Perpetual Help Jonelta System-Binan shocked Nippon Sports Science University of Japan, 83-74, to launch its title campaign in the 10th Asian University Basketball Championship at the PCU gym in Manila.

The Saints relied on John Angelo Rosale and Sean Dillon Laban to pull the rug from under the Japanese in this six-team tournament organized by the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) and supported by the City of Manila, headed by Mayor Joseph Estrada and MASCO  Chairman Philip Cesar.

Rosale, a  6-3 forward,  scattered 22  points while Laban added 16 points for the Binan City-based team of owner Dr Antonio Laperal Tamayo and coach Vic Escudero.

“The boys played well even against this highly-rated team from  Japan. Ayaw  talaga patalo kahit magaling din  ang  mga kalaban,” said  Escudero, whose team  topped  the Laguna  leg of  the  four-stage competitions.

In other  games, Amur State University-Russia  defeated  Farmco University of  Malaysia, 91-59, and Ningbo University of China overpowered  Technological University of the Philippines, 103-62.

BAP president Robert Milton Calo made the ceremonial toss, along with FESSAP State College Affairs Allan  Soria, BAP-NCR  Commissioner Nestor Macatuno  and BAP Director Leonardo Andres.

Calo welcomed the foreign participants during  a  brief opening ceremony.

Games in the prestigious,  week-long competition will  now be played at the  San Andres  Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.  AA