Sizzling start for JBA in Exec Cup hooplah Survives CECABA All-Stars; SHABA and Team Barkada rout foes

The Jaycees Basketball Association-Crunchicken/Purcia Transport dismantled a 14-point deficit in the third quarter, but still needed an extra five-minute period before disposing off the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association (CECACA) All-Stars, 91-90, at the start of the 2006 Executive's Cup basketball tournament last Sunday at the City Sports Club Cebu gym.

Archie Coros did a one-man show in carrying JBA to victory as he charted 43 points, including 12 in a tide-turning rally in the final 10 minutes of the regulation period.

James Lloyd Noel and Edmund Odulio added 15 markers apiece for JBA, which trailed by 14 points twice, the last was at 41-55 midway in the third canto.

The Pilipinas Shell-sponsored CECABA All-Stars were still ahead by 11 entering the final period, 65-54, but the JBA stalwarts staged a blistering 16-4 run to take the lead for the first time, 70-69.

A basket by Noel made it 75-73 for JBA, but Edvin Kaw of the CECABA All-Stars hit a crucial shot to tie the count at 75-all, thus, sending the game into overtime.

It was an all-JBA show in the extension, but the CECABA All-Stars threatened at 88-90 on a triple by Chester Cokaliong and two free throws by Richard Yu with 17 seconds left in overtime.

In the ensuing play, the JBA committed a passing error at the inbounds, but the CECABA All-Stars couldn't pull through as Cokaliong's probable game-winning 3-point shot just rattled in-and-out of the rim.

Still, the CECABA All-Stars had a chance to forge another overtime or even steal the game with 11 seconds to go, but Kaw made a passing error to Richard Yu underneath the basket that sealed their fate.

Five players cashed in double figures for the CECABA All-Stars led by Yu's 19 points, but the team effort they've shown was not enough as they failed to exact vengeance on JBA, the only team which they failed to beat last season.

Kaw finished with 13 points, while Sammy Sia, Stephen Tan, and Wilson Yu combined for 33 points in a losing cause.

In the other games, the Sacred Heart Alumni Basketball Association (SHABA)-Cebu Home Builders drubbed Springdale PTA-Pepsi Max, 67-44, while Team Barkada capped the season-opening triple-header with a 92-61 thrashing of City Sports Club-Sirlitz/Skylark.

The scores

First game

SHABA (67) - T. Lim 28, N. Lim 11, Young 8, Tan 7, Co 7, Siao 2, Yap 2, Roxas 2

Springdale (44) - Sta. Maria 26, Mercado 8, Del Mar 8, Villacin 2 Second game

JBA (91) - Coros 43, Odulio 15, Noel 15, Jayme 7, Chua 6, Rosal 2, Cortes 2, Purcia 1

CECABA All-Stars (90) - R. Yu 19, Kaw 13, Sia 12, Tan 11, W. Yu 10, Cokaliong 9, Chan 6, Tan 6, Cokaliong 4 Third game

Barkada (92) - Lim 20, Rama 17, Zamora 10, Yu 10, De la Calzada 9, Molina 8, Mante 7, A. Guardo 5, J. Guardo 4, Borres 2

City Sports Club (61) - Yeo 30, Gajudo 10, Sarmineto 8, Sanchez 7, Lumapas 2, Tan 2, Te 2