Mactan Hotmen captures cage title in Bureau of Customs sportsfest

CEBU, Philippines - The Mactan Hotmen rode on the brilliance of flashy playmaker Jessie Bugtai and heady skipper Kenneth Kern Sesante to shackle early title favorite D Force-Pimentel Brokerage, 90-81, and clinch the championship of the Bureau of Customs 1st Port of Cebu Sportfest basketball tournament last Thursday night at the Benedicto College gym in Brgy. Banilad, Mandaue City.

The Hotmen, who are the reigning Customs Employees and Brokers Union (C.E.B.U.) titlist, relied on the scoring punch of Bugtai as they re-established a commanding 73-55 advantage on Marvin Sillar’s triple midway in the final period.

Mactan’s biggest lead though stood at 19 points, 56-37, late in the third canto.

Bugtai topscored for the Hotmen with 18 points, while ex-CIT Wildkitten Jumie Ararao and Sesante, a former star guard of the UC Webmasters, chipped in 13 and 12 markers, respectively.

At one point, Pimentel threatened at 75-80 at the final 2:39 mark of the contest, but Sesante doused cold water on its comeback hopes by hitting a 3-point dagger.

Except for a 17-23 deficit at the start the second period, the Hotmen used an 8-0 run to quickly grab the lead, 30-28, for good.

Alexander San Pablo led Pimentel with 18 points, while Michael Macasero added 16. Darious Bensi donated 14 points in a losing effort.

Earlier, the Assessment Division escaped with a 74-73 victory over the Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc. (CCBI) to settle for third place.

Tata Laborte showed the way for Assessment with 12 points followed by Dondon Cadungog with 10. Jerecil Borlado topped CCBI with 28 points.

The scores

First game

Assessment (74) - Laborte 12, Cadungog 10, Rollon 9, Enriquez 8, Giducos 6, Quinio 6, Urbina 5, Medalle 4, Lopez 3, Bacalla 1

CCBI (73) - Borlado 28, Palero 10, Moral 10, Villaronza 10, Sta. Cruz 5, Sagario 3, Cilocilo 2, Petracorta 2, Velasco 2, Yelasco 1 Halftime: 32-37

Second game

Mactan Hotmen (90) - Bugtai 18, Ararao 13, Sesante 12, Ruiz 10, Ramos 8, Mata 8, Clapano 5, Sillar 5, Yu 5, Ambrad 4

D Force-Pimentel (81) - San Pablo 18, Macasero 16, Bensi 14, Estenzo 8, Arong 7, Mariano 5, Ibo 3, Solante 3, Borromeo 2, Nadela 2, Allerte 2, Pangue 2 Halftime: 40-32 (FREEMAN NEWS)