The M. Lhuillier-backed San Carlos Boys High Alumni Basketball Association (SCBHABA) and Metro Cebu Basketball Association (MCBA) rolled on to their third straight victories to share the Bracket B lead in the 1st MP Cup Invitational over the weekend at the University of San Carlos (USC)-Main gym.
While MCBA had little trouble in disposing off the previously unbeaten Barkada-Rama Boys, 82-69, M. Lhuillier-SCBHABA had to go through a five-minute extension before fending off the gritty Cocoroj-Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC), 85-82.
Cocoroj-INC was actually on its way to victory in the closing seconds of the regulation period, but SCBHABA forged a 79-all deadlock to send the game into overtime.
Dindo Sausa topscored with 23 points, while Virgil “Bing” Pua scattered a season-high 18 markers as SCBHABA joined MCBA atop the Bracket B leaderboard with identical 3-0 slates.
Romeo Montefalcon, Jr. and Marvin Sillar each scored 17 followed by Cesar Visayas with 16 markers, but their efforts went for naught as Cocoroj-INC suffered its third defeat against a solitary win.
In the other game, Johnny Bargamento and Remedios each fired 20 points, while Ortiz and Gilbert Sabellana contributed 11 points apiece for MCBA of urban poor leader Edward Ligas, which used a searing 21-7 run in the second quarter to change the course of the match in its favor at halftime, 42-32.
The Barkada-Rama Boys of Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael L. Rama rallied back in the third to pull within five entering the payoff period, 55-60, but MCBA closed the contest with a 22-14 bang for the 13-point romp.
Reynaldo Zamora cashed in 22 points followed by Richard Molina and Edgar de la Calzada with 16 and 12 markers, respectively, for the Rama Boys, which saw its two-game winning streak come to a sudden halt.
The scores
First game
MCBA (82) - Remedios 20, Bargamento 20, Ortiz 11, Sabellana 11, Ganancial 10, Daclines 8, Adlawan 2
Rama Boys (69) - Zamora 22, Molina 16, De la Calzada 12, Alcover 8, Dysam 4, Baculio 4, Rama 3
Second game
SCBHABA (85) - Sausa 23, Pua 18, Lu 9, Aauza 8, Odulio 8, Zanroia 7, Diaz 5, Amores 4, Medija 2
INC (82) - Montefalcon 17, Sillar 17, Visayas 16, Lapuz 10, Mata 9, Rusia 9, Casdenas 2, Cañete 2– EBV