BAGUIO CITY — National Capital Region’s St. Clare College, Quezon’s International School for Better Beginnings and Assumption College of Davao led opening day winners Sunday in the 2012 Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas National Under 16 Championship at the University of Baguio gym.

St. Clare, getting 16 points from Cedric Hernandez, dumped St. Agnes Academy of Albay, 77-51, after taking the half, 35-27; ISBB, with Mark Don Victor Alcala unloading 26 points, turned back Claret School of Zamboanga, 61-53, stretching a 30-27 edge at the intermission; and Assumption, in the girls division, dumped JDV Sr. Memorial National High School of Dagupan, 70-54, on the combined efforts of Rotheil Aqujar (20 points) and Faith Morales (18).

Pinoy Pride XI In Cebu

CEBU CITY — Not even the holiday season and the recent Sinulog Grand Parade slowed down undefeated Milan Melindo from preparing for his Jan. 28 fight against Mexican Juan Esquer. “Tuluy-tuloy lang po ang ensayo.

Hindi kailangan mag-pabaya,” said the 23-year-old native of Cagayan de Oro, who resisted the temptation of indulging into too much eating during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Training for Melindo is now in its final phase at the ALA boxing gym here as he gears up for his 12-round bout against Esquer which serves as the main event of `Pinoy Pride XI: Philippines vs. The World’ to be held at Cebu City Waterfront Hotel and Casino. Melindo will be bringing with him an unbeaten record of 25-0 (with 9 KOs) when he meets his 25-year-old opponent from Sonora, Mexico.

Aquathlon

New national pool member Allen Santiago and Bernasconi Echauz opened the 2012 season with a bang by ruling their respective divisions in the Wetshop Green Aquathlon Sunday at the Philsports Complex in Pasig City. Santiago, 16, clocked 24 minutes and 31 seconds to top the men’s 16-19 class of the 800-meter swim, 3-kilometer run event.

Edward Vine Macalalad (24:51) and Kurt Izak Cabanilla (25:15) came in second and third places, respectively. Fifteen-year-old Echauz, on her part, proved too classy over her rivals to win easily in 14:10 in the distaff side of the event held in cooperation with the Triathlon Association of the Philippines.

Other winners were Jhon Romas Buenaceda (25-29), Jerson Belonghilot (30-34), Jose de Vera (35-39) and Juan Apolinario Reyes (40-44). Next event of TRAP is the first leg of the Speede National Age-group Triathlon.

Drag Racing

Another exciting battle for speed and supremacy comes alive as the country’s finest drivers return to action in the 2012 Philippine Drag Racing Championships starting Saturday at the Clark International Speedway.

This time, the participants will tackle two challenging tracks in the event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and sponsored by Yokohama, M&H Race Master and powered by Racing Beat@Wave 89.1.

The pilot race will serve as the kickoff of the four-leg Northern Series and alternately tackle the challenge of the Batangas Racing Circuit in the four-leg Southern Series.Separate champions will be declared in both the Northern and Southern Series.

Participants will be competing for the titles in the Quick 8, M&H Super Pro, M&H Pro, Expert, Sportsman and Hotstreet classes.

U.A.A.P. Shocker

Ateneo continued its unbeaten run in the 74th UAAP baseball tournament by pulling off a stunning 8-1 win over reigning champion University of Santo Tomas at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Right-handed pitcher Paolo Tantuico struck out four batters in five innings before the Blue Eagles erupted for a five-run ninth frame to hike their record to a perfect 4-0, the team’s best start since 2007.

The Loyola-based batters, who have yet to win a championship in baseball, can complete a first-round sweep with a win on Thursday against La Salle. —Jonas Terrado