CEBU, Philippines - The Ave Maria Sanctuary Park relied on the accurate sniping of Alex Cainglet as they escaped with a 98-96 victory over Talisay City in the 1st M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Basketball Association (MLKP-CBA) season at the USC-Main gym.
Thus, Ave Maria now shares the lead with the Salazar Colleges of Science and Institute of Technology (SCSIT) Skyblazers who also coasted to their third straight win at the expense of Hotel Fortuna, 81-66. Mark Abadia exploded with 30 points for the Skyblazers.
Down by eight points at the intermission, 54-46, Cainglet rose to the occasion by drilling in three triples in the third period including a buzzer-beating halfcourt heave.
Cainglet, who finished with 15 points, keyed an Ave Maria comeback in the fourth where they took an 80-74 turnaround and controlled the game since then.
Jercules Tangkay topscored for Ave Maria with 22 points and Danny Aying added 20 markers. Enrico Llanto chipped in 13 points while Gerry Cavan had 11.
Jayford Rodriguez and Celso Colegado Jr. had 21 and 20 points, respectively, for Talisay.
The scores
Ave Maria (98) - Tangkay 22, Aying 20, Cainglet 15, Llanto 13, Cavan 11, Ocañada 7, Amores 6, Alicaway 2, Delfino 2
Talisay City (96) - Rodriguez 21, Colegado 20, Reyes 13, Basco 8, Lusdoc 8, Bolias 5, Belande 4, Sereño 4, Mercader 2, Malinao 1 (FREEMAN NEWS)