CBA christmas hoop ACT claims ticket to championship

CEBU, Philippines - Former University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers center Edrian Lao scored a game-high 19 points as the Asian College of Technology (ACT) Cyber Knights nipped Rollway Customs Brokerage, 77-69, to advance to the finals of the 2nd Cebu Basketball Association-M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Mayor’s Cup yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.

Lao scored ACT’s last eight points including the deciding free throws that gave his team a seven point lead, 75-68, with only 17.5 seconds left in the game clock.

It was a see-saw battle in the first three quarters of the game as both team exchanged shots that resulted in a 52-all deadlock going into the final 10 minutes of the game.

But the Cyber knights of coach Titing Manalili came through with several spurts to post an eight-point lead, 60-52, with 7:01 to go in the ballgame.

Ex-PBA cagers Stephen Padilla and Mark Magsumbol also sank a three-point bomb each to stretch the lead to 12 points, 72-60, at the final 1:59 of the game.

Forward Eric Sanoria and Adonis Morata tried to close the gap as they cut ACT’s lead to five points, 67-72, in the remaining 32.1 seconds, but it was Lao, who kept them at bay by grabbing offensive rebounds and hitting crucial free-throws to give ACT the win.

Aside from Lao, four others scored double-digits for ACT. Jan Villaver had 17 points, Padilla made 15 points, while Magsumbol and Ronald Bucao chipped in 13 and 10 points each.

ACT will face the winner of semis match between Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras and Ave Maria Sanctuary Park that was being played as of presstime last night.

Sanoria led Rollway, which will play in a knockout battle-for-third place, with 17 points. 

 The Scores:

ACT (77) – Lao 19, Villaver 17, Padilla 15 Magsumbol 13, Bucao 10, Cincoflores 2, Ursal 1

Rollway (69) – Sanoria 17, Mendoza 13, Morata 9, Escosio 9, Tabaloc 6, Cruz 6, Tarona 4, Aguilar 4, Monaco 1

Quarterscores: 22-17, 33-31, 52-52, 77-69 (FREEMAN)