Barkada edges CECABA Selection

Pablo Yu calmly sank a pair of pressure-packed free throws in the dying moments of the game to lift Team Barkada to a 64-61 win over the Runway Tires-backed Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association (CECABA) Selection in the 2006 Executives Cup last Sunday at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.

Before Yu canned his charities, the CECABA Selection had a chance to grab the lead when the score stood at 62-61, but Melton Dy flubbed a probable tide-turning free throws.

In the ensuing play, Yu was fouled and the former top collegiate and commercial coach in the local hoopdom showed iron nerves in converting his freebies that caused his teammates to leap for joy.

Yu finished with nine points, four rebounds and two steals, but it was Danilo Lim who topped Barkada with 16 points.

Reynold Zamora added 14 points, 11 rebounds, and season-highs nine assists, nine steals and four blocks, while Richard Molina contributed 11 points and 10 caroms as Barkada forged a four-way tie at second place with the CECABA All-Stars, Insular Life, and Jaycees Basketball Association (JBA) with similar 5-2 win-loss cards.

It was a heartbreaking setback for CECABA Selection, which badly needed to win to advance into the quarterfinal round.

Rey Kenneth Ng had 12 points followed by Dy with 11. Danny Calagos added 10 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, but still they fell short in the end as CECABA Selection dropped to 2-5.

In the other game, Springdale PTA- Pepsi Max blew hot and cold before cruising to a 78-68 triumph over City Sports Club-Sirlitz/Skylark.

Springdale PTA raced to a hot 24-12 start, but toned down offensively in the second canto, allowing City Sports Club to pull within three at the intermission, 33-36.

Springdale PTA, however, went back to usual business to regain a double-digit advantage for good, 57-46.

Chris Sta. Maria had another explosive night finishing with 29 points on top of 13 rebounds. Peter Sta. Maria ably backed him up with 14 points as Springdale improved to 3-4.

Alex Yeo fired 28 points and Gilbert Gajudo finished with 16 points and 18 rebounds but their efforts were to no avail as City Sports Club remained winless in seven games, so far.

The scores

First game

Barkada (64) - Lim 16, Zamora 14, Molina 11, Yu 9, De la Calzada 6, Mante 6, Borres 2

CECABA Selection (61) - Ng 12, Dy 11, Calagos 10, Uy 8,K. Lim 7, Villamor 6, P. Lim 3, Po 2, E. Lim 2

Second game

Springdale PTA (78) - C. Sta. Maria 29, P. Sta. Maria 14, Adolfo 10, Majam 8, Lim 7, De los Santos 4, Mercado 4, Mangubat 2

City Sports Club (68) - Yeo 28, Gajudo 16, Malixi 10, Tan 4, Sarmiento 4, Tan 2, Boholst 2, Sanchez 2