University of the Philippines rookie Mark Belmonte sustained broken teeth and a busted lip that would require surgery following a scuffle with Jose Rizal University’s John Amores during their game that was called off in the PG Flex Linoleum UCBL Pre-Season tournament Tuesday at the SGS Gym in Quezon City.

The game was halted with still 2:11 left in the third frame after Belmonte and Amores figured in a heated exchange while jockeying for position at the baseline.
It was Amores who threw an elbow to the chest of Belmonte to which the latter retaliated with an elbow of his own. Both players fell to the ground with Amores collaring Belmonte’s jersey before landing a punch to the latter’s face and triggered a bench-clearing incident.
The Fighting Maroons picked up their third win in as many games after taking a 52-41 lead before the game was officially stopped. The incident also took the spotlight from Harold Alarcon who had a splendid showing of 20 points.
Amores faces suspension following the punching incident.
Meanwhile, Emilio Aguinaldo College went off to a rousing start to take down Far Eastern University, 71-58. JC Luciano and Nat Cosejo led the Pirates’ balanced attack with nine and eight points, respectively.
Over at Group B action, Adamson mauled Lyceum, 70-46, while University of Batangas blasted University of Perpetual Help, 97-70.
The Falcons put up a defensive masterclass, limiting the Pirates to just two points in the third quarter while Joseph Yerro took care of the scoring with 18 points.
The UB Brahmans, on the other hand, leaned on a huge 33-point third quarter outburst to shock the Altas. Five players scored in double fiigures for UB led by Harold de Guzman who unloaded 18 points in just 24 minutes of play.