CCC-CSD, Survivors into Aloguinsan hoop final

CEBU - Jared Kane Abatayo, Aldrin Ocañada and Jerry Jaca figured prominently as the Carmen Copper Corporation-Construction Services Department (CCC-CSD) pulled a 91-84 upset of the Gregory Slaughter-led Talavera quintet, 91-84, to clinch the remaining final berth of the 1st Aloguinsan Mayor’s Cup fiesta basketball tournament the other day at the Alodome in Aloguinsan.

Earlier, Ronaldo Bucao hit a bone-crushing triple and then Marvin Mercado split his charities in the last few seconds of the game to propel the Survivors to a 90-8 stunner over the heavily favored Mandaue Team bannered by ex-pros Dale Singson, Gilbert Demape and Anton Villoria to advance into the championship round.

Thus, CCC-CSD of coach Boboy Cal set up a sudden-death final showdown with the Survivors for the P70,000 grand prize.

Abatayo scored a five-point swing in the final six minutes including a triple that broke a 74-all deadlock and a clean lay-up coming from a steal for a 79-74 CCC-CSD lead.

Ocañada, who finished with 28 points, sank a triple to hand CCC-CSD its biggest lead of the day at eight points, 86-78, entering the final two-minute mark of the contest. Ocañada and Raul Redulosa went 4-of-4 from the foul line to ensure CCC-CSD’s victory, 91-84, with only 12 seconds left to play.

Abatayo, a former UC guard, chipped in 18 points followed by Jaca with 17.

Slaughter, the grandslam MVP of the 2008 CESAFI season, paced Talavera with 16 points.

Bucao and Mercado, on the other hand, led the Survivors with 18 and 16 points, respectively.

Viloria, a native of Carcar who once played with Red Bull in the PBA, led Mandaue with 19 points while his former comrades in the pro ranks Singson and Demape both finished with 16 points. Jet Latonio added 14 markers followed by Vergel Abelong with 10.

The tournament, supervised by former USP Panther Matiolito Biton, is among the highlights of the annual town fiesta celebration of Aloguinsan on October 23-24.

The scores

First game

Survivors (90) - Bucao 18, Mercado 16, Mepaña 14, Gudez 13, Almonte 8, Canillo 3, Lanutan 3, Delfino 3, Lim 2

Mandaue (88) - Villoria 19, Singson 16, Demape 16, Latonio 14, Abelong 10, Omolon 8, Jueves 6, Daculan 2, Pagasian 2

Second game

CCC-CSD (91) - Ocañada 28, Abatayo 18, Jaca 17, Nailon 9, Delos Santos 4, Redulosa 4, Sayson 2, Montalbo 1, Arnado 1

Talavera (84) - Slaughter 16, Demotor 12, Isidro 11, Maguate 8, Tangarorang 8, Custodio 8, Garcia 5, Villanueva 4. – GGM (THE FREEMAN)