Golden Eye hits bullseye, reaches Coach Rady hoop final

CEBU - Coming from scratch, the Golden Eye squad hit its target of reaching the finals through backdoor entrance when it nosed out the Viking Haulers, 91-87, in a crucial game of the F. Llamas Youth Association (FYA) 1st Coach Rady Cup basketball tournament last Thursday at the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial gym in Brgy. Punta Princesa, this city.

Golden Eye was actually tied with its victim, but earned the right to challenge FYA Warriors in the championship round by virtue of a simple tie. The Warriors lost to the Lakers, 90-92, in a non-bearing match of a featured double-header.

Determined to win, the Golden Eye tandem of Janus Abellana and Dominic Enriquez played their hearts out to connive for 52 points. Team captain Noel Medalle was equally happy despite finishing with only five points.

FYA president Arnel Trinidad wanted to put up a good fight but could only pull off a measly six points for the Viking Haulers, who were paced by Tata Laborte with points and Junbel Llegunas with 14 markers.

Former USJ-R Jaguar Giovanni Canceko, on the other hand, led the Lakers with 24 points followed by Wendell Rollon with 19 and Mark Enriquez with 18.

Dan Enriquez topscored for the Warriors with 19 points, while Crissar Llegunas and Christopher Marata finished with 14 points apiece.

The final battle is set on Thursday. Expected to grace the event are Punta Princesa Brgy. Captain Rolly Diorico, barangay councilman Bugoy Atillo, and sports patron Rady Abarintos, the event’s chief backer.

The scores

First game

Lakers (92) - Canceko 24, Rollon 19, Enriquez 18, Rama 12, Tolentino 6, J. Canceko 5, Cañete 4, Garcia 2, Jao 2

Warriors (90) - Enriquez 19, Llegunas 14, Marata 14, Abella 11, Cadungog 10, Grant 10, Alob 3, Cambarijan 3, Trinidad 2, Pacaña 2, Cadungog 2

Second game

Golden Eye (91) - Abellana 30, Enriquez 22, Marata 14, Medalle 5, Rama 5, Bas 5, Arias 4, Beltran 2, Bantiling 2, Jobern 2

Viking Haulers (87) - Laborte 26, Llegunas 14, Medalle 9, CVamacho 8, Solon 7, Zapata 6, Trinidad 6, Arreglo 6, Cal 5 (GGM)  (THE FREEMAN)