Yellow Dragons clinch CUBA x'mas basketball crown

CEBU - William "Iam" Aparri exploded with a tournament-high 19 points spiked with five 3-pointers as the Yellow Dragons devoured the Green Archers, 73-68, to win the championship of the 2008 Cebu United Bankers Association (CUBA) Second Conference Christmas Basketball League at the Our Lady of Sacred Heart Parish Gym along Escario Street, this city.

The Dragons were dictating the tempo of the match from the onset and took a 35-31 edge at halftime. They stretched their lead to 11 points, 53-42, entering the final 10-minute mark of the contest, but the Archers fought back with aplomb to pull within three points.

Aparri, however, stymied the Archers' rally by knocking in crucial triples and coupled with porous defensive stance and lucky breaks, the Dragons preserved the five-point victory.

Earlier, the Red Lions blew hot and cold before fending off the Blue Eagles of team captain Christopher Osorio, 78-73.

The Red Lions, riding on the scintillating 33-point show by Eric So, collapsed after taking a 41-31 advantage at the break, but recovered in time to frustrate the exuberant Blue Eagles.

The scores

For third

Red Lions (78) - So 33, Aquinde 10, Teves 10, Bacalla 9, Pajares 8, Mabanto 5, Pajares 3

Blue Eagles (73) - Gabales 30, Bargamento 10, Miñoza 10, Osorio 14, Mirafuentes 5, Yamyamin 2, Tingzon 2

Quarterscores:19-16, 41-31, 52-50, 78-73

Yellow Dragons (73) - Aparri 19, Allera 11, Malahay 8, Macaling 8, Mantos 8, Chua 6, Baco 6, Cenita 4, Navarro 3

Green Archers (68) - Machado 20, Go 17, Saliz 15, Yap 8, Edera 4, Liston 2, Matarlo 2

Quarterscores:17-12, 35-31, 53-42, 73-68. – EBV (THE FREEMAN)