Cokaliong drops 9 3-point bombs as CECABA stars annihilate Siloys

CEBU, Philippines - Here he goes again.

Vaunted hardcourt sniper Chester Cokaliong rained nine triples of his 42 points as the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association (CECABA) All-Stars mercilessly clobbered the Siloys of Cebu Daily News (CDN), 120-75, in their exhibition match last Sunday at the City Sports Club Cebu gym.

Cokaliong's explosive showing earned him the All-Star MVP award, his 14th in goodwill games.

Cokaliong also reasserted his reputation as a decorated sharp-shooter by topping the 3-point shootout with 12 points. It was his 22nd 3-point king title in a colorful career that blossomed when he formed the CECABA 12 years ago.

It was actually a clean sweep by the CECABA stars with Dean Dy Teves winning the free throw shooting contest and the tandem of Ryan Alexis Mendez and Joseph James Yu lording it over in the 2-ball competition.

Cokaliong fired 11 points at CECABA, sprinted to a sizzling 34-12 starting. After closing the first half with a 60-34 advantage, the Easternians outscored the Siloys in the third period, 30-20, to pad their lead to 36 points, 90-54.

But Cokaliong wasn't done from there as the multi-awarded sportsman and shipping magnate poured in 14 more points in the final quarter that largely contributed to their 45-point demolition of the Siloys.

Mark Eugene Bukiron pumped in 26 points, while the ageless Zotico Tan added 13 markers. Christopher Cokaliong, Chester's vastly improved younger brother, chipped in a dozen points as the CECABA stalwarts chalked up their 20th victory against six losses and one draw since they engaged in exhibition matches against other community-based leagues and hoop organizations in 2002.

Jonas Panerio paced the Siloys with 24 points. – (FREEMAN)