Hotel Fortuna/SWU rules Drubs UC in Game 4 to snatch Partners' Cup title

CEBU, Philippines – The Hotel Fortuna-sponsored SWU frittered away after posting a 19-point lead in the fourth quarter, but Chris Litorja, Eliud Poligrates and Alfred Belande came to the rescue to steer the Cobras to a convincing 88-71 victory over the Enervon /UC Webmasters in Game 4 and clinch the championship of the 3rd CESAFI Partners' Cup last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Cobras, who took home P30,000, finished off the best-of-five series at three games to one.

The Cobras' victory appeared to have been a little doubt as they started the game with a 24-5 bang,thus, raising some questions on the Webmasters' capability of coming back.

The big-hearted Webmasters really did only that it was already too late.

Down by 19 points, 53-72, the Webmasters were about to show to the public that they can defend their fortress when they scored a 10-0 run leading to an 18-2 blitz that pulled them within six points, 68-74, on a triple by Moncrief Rogado with still 2:50 left in the game.

In the ensuing sequence, Poligrates knocked in a booming triple from the right wing and then Litorja scored on a five-point swing for SWU that doused cold water on the Webmasters' blazing rally.

The only consolation for the Webmasters was when their 6-foot-nine center June Mar Fajardo was named as the Most Energetic Player of the league after leading the Webmasters with 25 points.

Belande also cashed in 25 points for the Cobras, while Eric Zanoria contributed 15 markers. Poligrates, who capped the game with a slam that wowed the pro-Cobras crowd, had 12 points followed by Richie Jalandoni with 10.

The scores

Hotel Fortuna/SWU (88) — Belande 25, Zanoria 15, Poligrates 12, Jalandoni 10, Diango 9, Litorja 7, Pacquiao 4, Divinagracia 2, Nuñez 2

Enervon/UC (71) — Fajardo 25, Rogado 18, Abella 10, Luceño 6, Pao 4, Babad 4, Ramos 4 Halftime: 47-36 (GGM) (THE FREEMAN)