CEBU, Philippines - The Danny Duran-led Vernel Aroma Therapy scored an emphatic 83-64 victory over Sitio Colveta to clinch the championship of the Better Run Basketball Association (BERBA) First Conference at the Ma. Gochan Sports Complex in Brgy. Mambaling, this city.
Vernel needed only a strong second-half show to finish off Colveta behind the foursome efforts of former USJ-R Jaguar Rudy Cuizon, Bay Villarta, Tito Dimitiman and Dodong Lopez.
It appeared to be a smooth-sailing win for Vernel when it took a 24-point bulge, 59-35, entering the final period.
Duran, a former UV Lancers standout and coach, had only four points, but his nifty assists to almost all his teammates spelled the difference for Vernel.
Mon Ceballos paced Vernel with 13 points, while Cito Campos and Michael Arias finished with 11 points each.
Colveta was led by Walas Vergara with 15 points.
Earlier, Conor Express defeated the Left-Over, 74-65, to settle for third place.
Egang Tabalin lifted Conor with 25 points. Jun Salasa topped Conor with 16 points.
BERBA president Vic Gador was on hand to award the cash prizes and trophies to the top teams as well as the individual awardees.
The scores:
First game
Conor (74) E. Tabalain 25, Ledesma 16, Unabia 11, Pumareja 6, Ocañada 4, Capacite 4, Hamis 2, Romeo 2, P. Tabalin 2, Albaño 2
Left-Over (65) — Salasa 16, Millior 15, Calvo 8, Llamado 7, V. Cañete 4, Medalle 4, F. Cañete 3, Fernandez 2, Cabreros 2, D. Cañete 2, Manguinsay 1, Valle 1
Second game
Vernel (83) — Ceballos 13, Campos 12, Arias 12, Cuizon 10, Carcueva 7, Dimitiman 6, Villarta 6, Duran 4, lopez 4, Gador 4, Tabalin 3, Mosqueda 2, Martillan 2
Colveta (64) — Vergara 15, Tradio 13, Macion 13, Fernandez 8, Rentuma 7, Garcia 6, abrera 4, Sega 2. - GGM (THE FREEMAN)