Navarro steals the thunder as Wealth Bank thwarts Kings in CUBA caging

In a splendid display of shooting brilliance, Dax Navarro shot a perfect 5-of-5 from the 3-point land to lead Wealth Bank past the CUBA Kings, 82-77, at the end of the elimination round of the 2008 Cebu United Bankers Association (CUBA) First Conference basketball tournament at the Ourt Lady of Sacred Heart Parish gym.

It was one heck of a performance by Navarro that drew the surprise of everyone. He came up with a season-high 17 points spiced up by back-to-back triples in a fluid 10-0 spurt that pushed Wealth Bank on top for good at the end of the third period, 61-58.

The CUBA Kings attempted to wrest the upperhand several times in the windup but their comeback hopes vanished in thin air as Navarro completed his heroics by knocking in a trey with less than a minute left to play to bail Wealth Bank out of danger.

William Appari and Robert Rafson Chua dished out 26 points combined for the Kings, who were paced by Yap and Letrero with 20 and 17 markers, respectively.

Wealth Bank will face next Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), while Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) will take on Allied Bank in the other knockout duel this Saturday. The winners will proceed to the semifinals.

The scores

Wealth Bank (82) - Minoza 19, Navarro 17, Dominguez 13, Allera 12, Sigue 10, Osorio 6, Rizada 5

Kings (77) - Yap 20, Letrero 17, Aparri 15, Chua 11, Macaling 6, Castillo 6, Cortes 2

Quarterscores:16-17, 34-43, 61-58, 82-76—EBV