Mata lifts Eyeberry to victory in Atan Guardo Barkadahan caging

CEBU - Arturo Pepito “Pitoy” Mata sparkled with 31 points as Eyeberry ’86 overcame a third-quarter collapse to demolish Gemmary Pawnshop, 85-73, in the 2008 University of San Carlos Boys High Alumni Basketball Association (USCBHABA) Atan Guardo Barkadahan Cup at the USC-North Campus gym.

Eyeberry took an early 23-11 lead and then closed the first half with a 15-point advantage, 27-42, but surprisingly toned down offensively in the third canto, enabling the gritty Gemmary cagers to pull within just a hairline, 56-57.

Eyeberry, however, regained its bearing in the final quarter where it outpointed Gemmary, 28-17, to seal the 12-point romp.

Eyeberry is the latest quality of product Uniherb Philippines, one of the country leading health companies that produces popular food supplements such as Arthro, Heartvit, Diabet, and Kidneycare.

In the othher game, ex-pro and commercial star Lou Regidor fired a season-high 33 points as B-Meg ’85 survived a spirited resistance by GIO Electric Motors all game long to escape with an 80-78 victory. Regidor was heavily backed up Virgil “Bing” Pua and Jone Sepe with 32 points combined.

Bonito Zanoria paced GIO ’88 with 22 points followed by Edmund Odulio with 16 markers. John Andrew Auza and Dindo Sausa connived for 25 points in a losing cause.

Co-presented by Uniherb Philippines, the USCBHABA games are telecast on Guardo TV Channel 6 - a first in the league’s eight-year history.

The scores

First game

Eyeberry (85) — Mata 31, Romarate 15, Congson 12, Amores 8, Monsanto 7, Matugas 3, Romero 4, Catubig 2

Gemmary (73) — Gacayan 21, Monterroyo 17, Merced 13, Rebolido 10, Medina 8, Gelbolingo 4

Quarterscores:23-11, 42-27, 57-56, 85-73

Second game

B-Meg (80) — Regidor 33, Pua 19, Sepe 13, Mercado 6, Bacaltos 5, Aznar 4

GIO (78) — Zanoria 22, Odulio 16, Auza 13, Sausa 12, Tajanlangit 6, Guardo 4, Pagapulaan 4, Saso 2

Quarterscores:26-17, 42-42, 61-60, 80-78 (PR) (THE FREEMAN)