Dragons scorch Lions in Cuba hoopla

CEBU - The Edmund Tecson-skippered Yellow Dragons wasted away a 15-point lead with three minutes left in the game but rode on Alex Macaling’s endgame heroics to repulse the brave Red Lions, 71-68, in the 2008 Cebu United Bankers Association (CUBA) Christmas Basketball League at the Our Lady of Sacred Heart Parish gym along Escario Street, this city.

The Dragons seemed headed to a smooth-sailing victory as they enjoyed a huge 64-59 lead, but the Red Lions staged a sizzling 19-2 counterattack to wrest the upperhand, 68-66, with 30 seconds left in the contest.

In the ensuing sequence, Macaling scored on a barellign drive aside from fishing out a foul. He calmly completed his three-point play to put the Dragons on top anew, 69-68, with 14 ticks left before the final buzzer.

After failing to make one good play in their possesion, the Lions quickles fouled Mantos, who then cooly sank his pressure-packed free throws to ice the Dragons’ spine-chilling triumph.

Robert Rafson Chua churned out a game-high 15 points for the Dragons, while Macaling and Mantos chipped in a dozen markers apiece.

Earlier, the Green Archers banked on the leadership of Ramon Cataros and the tenacious defense of Tony Liston to shot down the Blue Eagles, 53-47. Thus, the Green Archers need only to win their last game in the elimination round to barge into the finals.

The scores

First game

Green Archers (53) - Go 12, Saliz 11, Yap 8, Machado 7, Lim 6, Cataros 4, Ornopia 2, Maravilla 2, Liston 1

Blue Eagles (47) - Osorio 19, Gabales 16, Bernas 4, Yamyamin 4, Rizada 2

Quarterscores:15-13, 28-19, 38-36, 53-47

Second game

Yellow Dragons (71) - Chua 15, Macaling 12, Mantos 12, Baco 6, Aparri 6, Malahay 6, Navarro 5, Allera 4, Egos 3, Cenita 2

Red Lions (68) - Villarin 13, Rosal 13, So 12, Bacalla 9, Mabanto 8, Pajares 5, Bacalla 4, Teves 2

Quarterscores: 20-21, 37-25, 52-49, 71-68—EBV (THE FREEMAN)