Class '99 guns down '95 in CECABA hoopla

Cebu Pacific Transport '99 escaped with a razor-thin 54-53 victory over the slumping Rocket Battery '95 in the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association's 8th Dr. Chen Lieh Fu Memorial Cup on Friday at the CEC gym.

Ruben Yap Jr., transformed himself into a one-man wrecking crew anew, finishing with 21 points on top of 10 rebounds. Albert Uy added 11 points, seven rebounds, and three assists as Class '99 improved to 6-2.

Class '99 actually trailed by nine at the end of then first period, 6-15, but fired back in the second canto, 21-9, to gain a three-point headway, 27-24, at halftime.

The two protagonists figured in a hill-to-hill battle after the break resulting into a 38-all standoff entering the payoff period.

Class '95 put up a spirited resistance in the closing seconds of the game, but Yap, Uy, and Genseric Rowie Tan delivered when it mattered most to bail Class '99 out of danger.

It was another heartbreaker for Class '95, which played its worst game of the season, so far.

Donald Anthony Ting was the only double-digit scorer with 11 points - way below average - as Class '95 suffered its fifth defeat in eight games.

Class '95's only consolation was Archie Gue who was acknowledged for becoming the league's 28th member of the 1,000-point club. Gue actually attained the feat last February 28, but was overlooked by the organizers.

In the other game, Asian Home Appliance '89/93 unleashed a sizzling third quarter run to scorch Eco-Tech Appliance '84/87, 65-56.

Class '89/93 was down by five points at the turn, 25-30, but staged a daring fightback in the third period, 26-14, to change the complexion of the match in its favor with a 51-44 edge heading into the final 10-minute zone of the contest.

Class '89/93 deftly protected its lead until the dying seconds to chalk up its sixth win against only one loss.

Four played cashed in twin digits for Class '89/93 led by Wilby Tan with 12 points. Rey Kenneth Ng added 11 markers, while Ryan Alexis Mendez and Joseph Allan Chiang chipped in 10 points apiece.

George Artus scattered 19 points, star center Sammy Sia had 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Henrich Chua pitched in 12 markers, but their combined efforts went to waste as Class '84/87 slipped to 4-3.

The scores

First game

Class 1999 (54) - Yap 21, Uy 11, G. Tan 9, Lauron 7, T. Tan 4, See 2

Class 1995 (53) - Ting 11, Gollon 9, Dy Teves 9, Yu 7, Angcay 4, Gue 4, Tiu 4, Co 3, Ho 2

Second game

Class '89/93 (65) - Tan 12, Ng 11, Mendez 10, Chiang 10, Lauron 6, Chua 6, Ong 5, Ting 5

Class '84/87 (56) - Artus 19, Sia 13, Chua 12, Go 4, Lim 3, Lim 2, Tanco 2, Quilacio 1