CECABA clashes with UABC in friendly basketball match

The Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association (CECABA) All-Stars face a new hardcourt challenge as they clash with their United Architects Basketball Club (UABC) counterparts in an exhibition match this Sunday afternoon at the City Sports Club-Cebu Gym.

Expected to be at the center of attraction is the showdown between CECABA’s Chester C. Cokaliong and UABC’s Allan G. Choachuy in the 3-point shotoout, which will be competed alongside the free-throw shooting and the 2-ball contest before the game proper.

It is interesting to note that Cokaliong, who boasts of 16 3-point king titles in his career, is the reigning CECABA 3-point champion, while Choachuy topped the first ever 3-point shootout of the UABC cage league that is open only to licensed artchitects and architecture graduates.

Though the heavy favorites, Cokaliong and Choachuy should brace for a tough challenge from Richard Lanutan and Samuel Sia of CECABA, Chris Matunog, Elvin Mayuela of UABA, and guest players Manny Villaruel and Jun Migallen, sports editors of The Freeman and Sun.Star Superbalita, respectively.

In the free-throw contest, Cokaliong and Choachuy tackle an equally-tough opposition that includes Ryan Mendez and Emerson Go of CECABA and John Sulay and Elmer Laguna of UABC.

Cokaliong hopes to score another treble in a one-day shootout as he teams up with his brother Christopher in the 2-ball competition - a field which he has already compiled 11 titles.

The Cokaliong siblings will go up against Edvin Kaw-Ryan Mendez and Stephen Tan-Emerson Go of CECABA, Richard Abella-Philip Khan Lim and Ian Osmeña-Paolo Alberto of UABC.

To further beef up its backcourt, CECABA has brought in John Bryan Lo to back up Mendez and Lanutan. Aside from Cokaliong, Sia, and Kaw, the CECABA stars also count on Mitchel Diputado, Richard Yu, and Gregorio Aguilar among their reliables on both offensive and defensive ends.

Not wanting to be outdone, the Architects have summoned five star players to streghten their offensive arsenal in the likes of Mark Louie Capili, Paolo Alberto, Elmer Laguna, Ian Osmeña, and Chris Matunog.

Completing the Choachuy-skippered UABC roster are James Nazareno, John Sulay, Jonathan Suico, Erickson Perez, Lord Ong, Christopher Dy, and Peter Bordador. — EBV