CEC stays alive

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons held the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (AdC) Magis Eagles to just 12 points in a decisive fourth-period to pull off a 59-52 victory and force a playoff for the second finals slot in the secondary division of the 11th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Dragons, who won for the first time in three games against the Magis Eagles this season, staged a sizzling 14-0 rally bridging the third and fourth quarters to post their biggest lead at 17 points, 56-39, on a triple by James Neil Sumayang. That was also their largest lead in the entire season against the same team who swept them in two elimination round games that included an 81-82 decision in double overtime.

Aaron Sing's 3-pointer ended the long scoring drought for the Magis Eagles at the 6:35 mark of the contest. It was their first basket since Julius Cadavis scored with still 3:23 left in the third canto when they were just down by three points, 39-42.

The Dragons, however, closed the third period with nine consecutive points - five coming from Sumayang and four from Alfred Sedillo as they took a 51-39 lead.

The Dragons sustained their momentum and in stark contrast, the Magis Eagles showed some signs of collapse as aside from missing too many free throw attempts, they also flubbed a bunch of perimeter shots.

Sumayang topscored for the Dragons with 15 points. Marvin Bauya, the All-Star MVP last Sunday, added 13 points followed by Sedillo with 11 markers.

Sing, who fired four triples, and Maverick Suarez led the Magis Eagles with 13 points each. Cadavis added 11 points but the missing link was Henric Dawn Ochea, who was grounded by the Dragons' solid defense and was limited to a paltry four points.

The scores

CEC (59) - Sumayang 15, Bauya 13, Sedillo 11, Berdera 8, Huevos 6, Balankig 3, Zosa 3, Yap 1

SHS-AdC (52) - Sing 13, Suarez 13, Cadavis 11, Igna 6, Ochea 4, Go 2, Competente 2. Halftime: 31-27  (FREEMAN)