Cokaliong, RC Goldline nail top spots

CEBU, Philippines -  Cokaliong Shipping Lines (CSL) and Metro Cebu Uptown Jaycees (MCUJ)/RC Goldline secured the top two spots of the playoffs with contrasting wins in the Seniors’ Executive Cup 2011 basketball tournament at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.

The undefeated Jaycees overcame a tough B-Meg/San Carlos Boys’ High Alumni Basketball Association (SCBHABA), 93-89, in a nail-biting game, while CSL totally outplayed Cebu Executives and Professionals Basketball Association (CEPBA), 98-70.

In the first game, it was a simple case of a hot-shooting team outplaying an ice cold team with CSL controlling the game from the get go and CEPBA never finding its range. When the usually inside-playing Opel Cabaltera opened the game with a triple, it was an omen of things to come for CSL’s shooting demo.

Team owner Chester Cokaliong got going early, making four triples in the first quarter in leading the team to a 29-18 lead at the end of the period. Ricky Yu then teamed with Cabaltera, Julius Gastador and Toto Lawas to up the lead to 51-29 at halftime.

Nothing could go right for CEPBA as its leading scorers Jussac Arong and Atoy Patindol were held to a combined 15 points in the first half, reflecting the cold shooting of the team. It was cruise control for CSL from halftime onwards. Cokaliong finished the game with 26 points spiked with eight treys. Cabaltera added 19. Arong led CEPBA with 15 as Cesar Ortega chipped in 12.

If the first game was wide open, the second game was the total opposite. MCUJ/RC Goldline went to its veterans and nerves of steel to outlast B-Meg/SCBHABA in a game that was close all the way, featuring five lead changes in the last six minutes of the game. With the Jaycees protecting a 73-67 lead to begin the fourth quarter, B-Meg/SCBHABA opened the period with a 12-2 run to take 79-75 lead with six minutes left in the game.

Montoy Singson, Jimbo Noel and Leode Garcia combined for an 11-4 counter attack to regain the lead at 86-83. But Bing Pua drilled a triple to tie the game at 86-all with 1:50 left. After a Robert Abasolo basket, Dindo Sausa would give the ex-Baby Warriors its last taste of the lead at 89-88 with 1:23 left.

Lito Navarro replied with an 18-footer to give the Jaycees the lead for good at 90-89, 1:12 left. After an SCBHABA turnover and two missed attempts, Noel, Navarro and Dave Lim all split their charities for the final score. Singson led MCUJ/RC Goldline with 29 points while Garcia had 16. Lou Regidor and Bing Pua had 17 and 16 points, respectively for B-Meg/SCBHABA.

MCUJ/RC Goldline retains its solo leadership at 4-0, followed by CSL (3-1), CEPBA (3-2), B-Meg/SCBHABA (3-2), Club Monday (1-4) and Mandaue Jaycees (0-5). The top two teams clash in the last game of the classification phase on Friday to determine the top two seeds who’ll get twice-to-beat advantages in the playoffs.

The winner of the game gets the top seeding while the other settles for #2. The Seniors’ Executive Cup 2011, a tournament for players 35 years old and above is a revival of the original Executive Cup of 2003-2005 and Pacman Cup of 2007.  (FREEMAN)