The Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association (CECABA) selection banked on a solid opening barrage to demolish House of Hope, 83-73, in the continuing action of the 1st MP Cup Invitational basketball tournament on Friday night at the City Sports Club-Cebu Gym.
Thus, the CECABA stars joined Team Pacman of boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao at third in Bracket A standings with similar 2-1 win-loss records. As CECABA logged its second win in a row after dropping a 66-69 decision to RWS Stable/AJL Surplus in the season-opener, it dealt House of Hope its second straight setback in as many games.
Bull-strong forward Mitchell Diputado and sharp-shooting guard Chester Cokaliong connived for 20 points as CECABA of coach Calvin Tuadles and assistant Jojo Romarate streamrolled to a 30-20 start. The Easternians were never threatened from that point on.
The CECABA stalwarts posted their biggest lead of 22 points twice, including at 46-24, early in the second canto. They maintained a 19-point edge, 66-47, before mellowing down in the windup, allowing House of Hope to pile up garbage points to close the gap down to only 10 at the final buzzer.
Diputado scattered 16 points, 11 in the opening quarter, while Cokaliong pitched in 15 markers - all from beyond the arc. It was an awesome display of teammanship for Cokaliong, who also dished out three assists and had one blocked shot despite being rested in the entire second period.
Ace center Ricky Yu was held off to only four points, but Sammy Sia and Edvin Kaw delivered when it mattered most. The power duo combined for 21 points for CECABA, which saw 11 of its 13 players hitting the scoring chart in a great display of team effort.
Ginno Amodia fired a game-high 28 points for House of Hope, but got no sufficient support from the rest of his teammates save for Noe Restauro with 14 markers.
In the other game, Casino Filipino-Mactan rode on a furious third-quarter explosion to finally barge into the win column with a 72-63 spanking of Dewfoam-United Architects’ Basketball Club (UABC).
Casino Filipino-Mactan trailed by five at halftime, 28-33, but turned the tables on UABC using a 25-10 blitz, to grab the lead for good, 53-43.
Ricky Tamarra had 13 points followed by Eric Relampagos with 12 as Casino Filipino-Mactan snapped out of its two-game losing slump.
John Sulay had 21 points and Jonathan Suicio added 16 for UABC, which crashed to its third straight defeat.