Xmen 2 wrests Talamban cage crown

CEBU, Philippines - Veteran commercial cagers Aldrin Ocañada, Jerry Jaca and Danny Aying all punched in double figures as the Ave Maria Sanctuary Park-Xmen 2 escaped with a 73-70 victory over its sister-team Ave Maria-Xmen 1 to bag the championship of the Talamban Open Basketball Tournament crown at the Talamban Sports Complex.

Ocañada and Jaca each scored 13, while Aying tossed in a dozen markers for the Xmen 2, which paraded a star-studded roster that include Jercules Tangkay, Marvin Tundag, Elvis Labares and Frangel Omolon.

After posting a 41-33 edge at halftime, the Xmen 2 had a shaky fourth-quarter offensive, allowing Xmen 1 to recover and even took a hairline lead, 70-69, at the final 1:40 mark of the contest.

Ocañada, however, quickly came to the rescue, drilling in four crucial points to lift Xmen 2 to crowning glory.

Considering that both his teams clashed in the finals, team owner Raffy Senining handed over P25,000 as prize for the 1-2 finish of the Ave Maria Sanctuary Park.

In the juniors division, the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Eagles walloped the hapless University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warriors, 93-52.

The scores

Ave Maria-Xmen 2 (73) - Ocañada 13, Jaca 13, Aying 12, Tundag 9, Duran 8, Tangkay 5, Omolon 5, Cortes 4, Labares 2, Villaver

Ave Maria-Xmen 1 (70) - Colegado 10, Hatague 9, Justiniani 7, Tagalog 7, Pogoy 7, Tarona 6, Isidro 5, Gabas 5, Esperat 4, Baribe 4, Malinao 2, Canoy 2 Halftime: 41-33   (FREEMAN NEWS)