Welcoat Paints 2004 streaked past Cokaliong Shipping ’98-A, 83-77, to stretch its unbeaten streak to seven games in the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association’s 10th Dr. Chen Lieh Fu Memorial Cup at the City Sports Club-Cebu Gym.
Danel Hayag lit up Welcoat’s offensive fire with a season-high 30 points on top of seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Sharp as ever, Christian Espada unloaded 25 points, 15 rebounds, two steals and two blocks in another fine display of hardcourt versatility for the Paintmasters, who raced to a 19-14 start.
Class ’98-A fought back in the middle quarters to knot the count at 61-all, but Class 2004 outlasted the Cokaliong Shipping-backed squad in the windup, 23-16, to preserve its unblemished record.
Paul Timothy So scattered 27 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and five steals, while Rex Millan banged in career-highs 26 markers, six assists, four rebounds and two steals but their explosive performances went to waste as Class ’98-A fell to 3-5.
In the other game, Leovigildo Yu charted 28 points - 16 in the third quarter - and Elvis Evangelista added 20 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two blocks as GCM Royalle Merchandise ’98-B mauled Jepoy Sales 2001, 71-52.
Virgilio Escoton Jr. added 11 points and four rebounds for Class ’98-B, which kept Class 2001 at bay since taking a 31-22 lead at the intermission en route to improving its win-loss record to 7-1.
Tom Andres dished out season-highs 13 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals for Class 2001. Alwyn Ong added 12 points followed by Primo Reyes with 10 markers but still they slipped to 2-7.
The scores
First game
Class 2004 (83) - Hayag 30, Espada 25, Alvez 8, Areja 7, Chan 7, Sy 4, Co 2
Class ’98-A (77) - P. So 27, Millan 26, E. So 17, Tan 5, Go 2
Second game
Class ’98-B (71) - Yu 28, Evangelista 20, Escoton 11, Yap 8, Plaza 4
Class 2001 (52) - Andres 13, Ong 12, Reyes 10, Lao 8, Lim 4, Sy 3, Go 2– EBV