Young Builders ’91 stayed undefeated after six games, but VAG Trading ’94 stole the show when it stunned the previously unbeaten Dewfoam ’88 in the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association’s 10th Dr. Chen Lieh Fu Memorial Cup over the weekend at the CEC Gym.
Class ’91 dismantled the slumping Osam Enterprises ’84, 63-50, but the spotlight on Saturday night went to Class ’94 when it vanquished Class ’88, 60-57, to record the biggest upset of the season, so far.
The game was so close that it incited a thousand thrills, but the spirited Class ’94 chargers capitalized on their nearly flawless shooting from the free-throw line where they hit a spectacular 13 out of 14 attempts in the final quarter to fluster Class ’88.
Stanley Gaw and Wellington Yu combined for 17 of the team’s final 19 points to buffer Class ’94 to an earth-shaking victory over Class ’88, which unexpectedly floundered despite playing in full force.
Gaw finished with 14 points and three rebounds, while Yu chipped in 13 markers on top of nine rebounds and three assists. Bronson Peña and Anthony Chua each had 11 markers as Class ’94 kept its bid for a Top 4 slot in motion with an even 3-3 win-loss card.
Richard Yu had 16 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals, while Harry Villamor added 14 markers for Class ’88, which saw its six-game winning roll come to a sudden red stop.
Later in the night, Peter Michael de la Torre rifled season-highs 21 points and nine rebounds and Chester Benedic Go added 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists as Class ’91 easily overhauled an early 7-18 deficit to keep its record perfect at 6-0.
It was a double celebration for Chester Go as he became the 46th player to breach the 1,000-plateau in the league’s 10-year history.
Still trailing by twin digits at halftime, 21-31, Class ’91 breathe fire in the third quarter where it unleashed a tide-turning 24-8 rally. The Young Builders-backed squad then finished off Class ’84 in the final quarter, 18-11, for the 13-point demolition in come-from-behind fashion.
Peter Dy logged a season-best 20 points and four rebounds, while star center Sammy Sia banged in 15 points, 18 rebounds, four blocks and two assists for Class ’84, which slipped to 1-6.
The scores
First game
Class ’91 (63) - De la Torre 21, C. Go 18, Teson 9, Co 7, Lim 6, Ty 2
Class ’84 (50) - Dy 20, Sia 15, Tan 9, Tan 4, Lim 2
Second game
Class ’94 (60) - Gaw 14, W. Yu 13, Chua 11, Peña 11, Beldeniza 5, Jao 4, Bejer 2
Class ’88 (57) - R. Yu 16, Villamor 14, Ng 9, E. Yu 7, Aguilar 5, R. Lim 4, Dy 2 – EBV