The rejuvenated Cokaliong Shipping Lines rode on Jack Huang and Alex Yeo's endgame resiliency to pummel Castle Peak Hotel, 83-71, at the start of the 2006 Winners' League basketball tournament at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.
Games on Friday
7:30 pm World Wide Steel vs. Global Carrier 9:00 pm Sherilin vs. Castle Peak
In the other games, Kane Chan Lim, Kyle Kokseng and PJ Iway combined for 41 points as Global Carrier escaped with a 53-51 win over Sherilin Plastics, while World Wide Steel displayed great teamwork in slamming JV Shop N' Shop, 82-69.
Huang had a monstrous effort, unloading 12 of his team-high 21 points in the last quarter to go along with his 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals, while Yeo scored six of his 16 markers in a game-closing 12-3 run that bailed Cokaliong Shipping out of danger.
It was Chester Cokaliong, however, who lit up the early offensive fire for Cokaliong Shipping.
Cokaliong tossed in all his 17 points spiked with five 3-pointers in the first three quarters to power Cokaliong Shipping to a 17-point advantage, 60-43, entering the final 10-minute mark of the contest.
Behind the scoring rampage of Samsam Gullas, Castle Peak Hotel did manage to send some shivers down the spines of Cokaliong Shipping as it pulled within striking range, 68-71 with two minutes left to play.
But Huang and Yeo came to Cokaliong Shipping's rescue.
Yeo hit a basket and then went 4-of-4 from the foul line to give Cokaliong Shipping an 80-71 breather in the closing seconds. Huang put icing on their victory cake with a 3-pointer to peg the final count.
The likes of Gilbert Gajudo and Emil Mercado also deserved honorable mention. Gajudo scored only nine, but plucked down 14 rebounds and two assists.
Mercado chipped in eight points, seven rebounds and four steals, including one off Gullas leading to a breakaway layup that gave Cokaliong Shipping a 77-68 edge with less than a minute remaining in the game.
Gullas topped Castle Peak with 30 points, half of it he poured in the fourth quarter, but got only help from Edmund Gaisano with 13.
Castle Peak and Sherilin Plastics seek to bounce back from their respective defeats as they slug it out in the main game this Friday at 9 pm. Their match will be preceded by the clash of opening day winners World Wide Steel and Global Career at 7:30 pm.
The scores
First game
Cokaliong Shipping (83) - Huang 21, Cokaliong 17, Yeo 16, Gajudo 9, Mercado 8, Cokaliong 4, Chan Lim 2, Boholst 2, Sarmiento 2, Sanchez 2
Castle Peak (71) - Gullas 30, Gaisano 13, Selma 8, Ngo 6, P. Lim 6, Gillamac 4, Chan Lim 3, Tolentino 1 Second game
Global Carrier (53) - Chan Lim 16, Kokseng 15, Iway 10, Salvador 8, Teson 4
Sherilin Plastics (51) - Huang 12, Lopez 12, Iway 7, Mercado 5, Ong 5, Go 4, Fortich 4, Gaw 2 Third game
World Wide Steel (82) - K. Ong 12, W. Ong 12, Razon 11, Hing 11, M. Go 10, F. Sy 7, Cabatana 6, Po 6, Uy 5, N. Ong 2
JV Shop N Shop (69) - So 20, Uy 15, Gabasa 11, Sy 6, Suarez 6, Hing 6,Olvido 5