CEBU, Philippines - The Assessment Division inched closer to the final round of the 35-below division following a 90-73 demolition of the Pimentel Brokers in the 14th District Collector’s Cup basketball tournament at the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Sports Complex in Brgy. Punta Princesa, this city.
Pimentel would not have lost by such a wide margin had it not been deducted by 15 points as penalty for reporting with insufficient number of players.
Adrian Laborte, a former SIT Baby Skyblazer, had 22 points as Assessment improved its win-loss record to 5-1.
Alex San Pablo, a barangay councilor of Pajo in Lapu-Lapu City, amassed 28 points for Pimentel, which is now out of contention with a 2-5 win-loss card.
In the 35-above division, the Cebu-Customs United Personeros Association (C-CUPA) scored a major upset over the MJDL Brokers by the narrowest of margins, 70-69. Ronald Gasol sank C-CUPA’s winning basket with seven seconds left to play.
Four C-CUPA players finished in double figures led by Edgar Sepe with 16 points. MJDL, who has also four players scoring in twin digits, was topped by James Jordan and Noel Medalle with 12 points apiece.
The victory gave C-CUPA a 4-2 win-loss card while dropping MJDL to 3-3.
Earlier, the Enforcement Security Service (ESS) of team captain Jing-Jing rama won by forfeiture against the Port Operations Division (POD).
Should C-CUPA prevails over ESS tonight, then it will be a C-CUPA vs. the Mactan Hotmen (6-0) for the championship on February 23.
The scores
35-above
C-CUPA (70) — Sepe 16, Estrada 15, Palad 11, Sigue 11, Gasol 7, Martelino 6, Ebrada 2, Solidario 2
MJDL (69) — Jordan 12, Medalle 12, Lambayan 10, Nacario 10, Martinez 9, Logarta 4, Badon 4, Nioda 4, Dacumos 2, Lopez 2
35-below
Assessment (90) — Laborte 22, D. Enriquez 11, Cadungog 9, Pianyar 8, Trinidad 7, Rollon 6, Enriquez 6, Perez 6, Francia 5, Arreglo 3, Cañete 2
Pimentel (73) — San Pablo 28, Villa 17, Arong 7, Manlosa 6, Villaraza 6, Largosa 3, Bensi 2, Palero 2, Rosel 2 (GGM) (THE FREEMAN)