Barakos unseat Garfield to rule CABA caging

Tony Piloton's T & T Barako stunned defending champion Garfield, 81-65, on Friday night to grab the championship title in the 2006 Second Conference of the Cebu Athletics Basketball Association (CABA) -Tommy n Tony Cup basketball tournament at the San Nicolas Sports Complex.

A seesaw battle ensued in the first two periods with the defending champion, Garfield, taking a slim lead, 46-44, at the turn behind the combined efforts of former commercial players, Reggie Licanda, Edil Zapanta and Marlon Lumayag.

In the final half, the Barakos began to wax hot and took hold of the advantage courtesy of power center, Benjie Orquez, who launched several breakaway drives as he teamed up with Rol Saladaga and Lennon Rafols in the offensive, leading 24-7 run to mount a commanding 15-point bulge, 68-53, enroute to the last canto and protecting it until the final stretch.

In the preliminary, AC Sports of Archie Baba grabbed the third place after trouncing Ho-Mi Noodles, 98-93.

Mariano Chowking and Jay-r Gonzaga led the Sportsmen with 22 and 17 points, respectively, which also drew double figures each from Jaime Rodriguez, Ricky Misa and Along Colliflores.

Oliver Manayon and Nante Plaras, on the other hand, paced the Noodlemen with 33 and 18 points, respectively, while Andy Acejo and Henry Cabarrubias added 27 points combined.

CABA president Jun Ando was on hand to award the cash prizes, trophies and medals to the top performing teams and individuals.

The champion received P5, 000 while the second and third placers got P3,000 and P2, 000, respectively.

Dandre Baclay, Along Colliflores, Reggie Licanda, Bofart Castillo and Benjie Orquez were picked to the Mythical Five.

It was a double celebration for Bejie Orquez as he also romped off with the coveted Most Valuable Player award.

The Sportsmanship Award goes to Marlon Abonitalla.

The Scores:

AC SPORTS (98)- Chowking 22, Gonzaga 17, Rodriguez 14, Misa 11, Colliflores 10, Bacelon 8, Montañez 6, Baba 4, Dano 4, Pader 2

HO-MI (93)- Manayon 33, Plaras 18, Acejo 14, Cabarrubias 13, Anticristo 9, Echivarre 6

BARAKO (81)- Orquez 15, Rafols 10, Saladaga 10, Tano 8, Rapuela 8, Cabezas 6, Calma 6, Baclay 5, Piloton 5, Rodriguez 3, Cabangbang 2, Dayondon 2, Quijano 1

GARFIELD (65)- Licanda 12, Zapanta 10, Fernandez 8, Lumayag 8, Estrera 7, Vergara 5, Salili 5, Enicuela 5, Amad 3, Bondoc 2