CEBU, Philippines - Teams Blue and White overshadowed separate rivals at the start of the 6th Thursday Club Inter-Color Basketball Tournament in Brgy. Jugan, Consolacion.
Blue overcame a spirited resistance by Yellow all game long to walk away with a 90-87 victory, while the White squad also had to deal with a tough challenge by Red before squeezing out a precarious 69-61 win.
Tony Pepito charted 17, points while Anic Tajale added 14 markers for Blue, which wisely protected a shaky 72-68 lead at the end of the third quarter until the final buzzer.
Brix Secretaria topped Yellow with a game-high 18 points. Carl Sasing scored 17 in a losing cause.
In the other game, Tino Valle scattered 19 points and Michael Ernie added 14 as they went strong in the windup to translate a razor-thin 46-45 lead into a resounding eight-point triumph for White.
Alfon Pepito led Red with 19 followed by Jerome Taborada with 14.
The Thursday Club league is strongly supported by Jugan Barangay Council headed by Brgy. Capt. Diosdada Gielcz along with councilors Boboy Pepito, Tony Pepito, Dado Ygot, Josie Cabahug and Jaime Pilapil.
(THE FREEMAN)