Shell '80s extends winning run to six in CECABA hoop

CEBU, Philippines - The streaking Shell '80s toiled hard in the entire 40-minute skirmish before getting rid of Best World Lifestyle 2004, 70-66, in the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association's 12th Dr. Chen Lieh Fu Memorial Cup last Tuesday night at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.

Stephen Tan carried most of the load for Shell '80s, churning out a season-high 27 points on top of nine rebounds and four assists as they clinched their sixth straight win and seventh overall in eight starts.

Top gunner Chester Cokaliong was held off to 13 points, but it did not matter for Shell '80s as the likes of Joel Chan and Wilson Yu stepped up bigtime on both ends of the court. Chan was just one assist short of a triple-double, finishing with 13 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, while Yu nailed 11 markers on top of four rebounds.

Christopher Cokaliong scored only four but hauled 11 rebounds for Shell '80s, which was made to work extra hard by the younger graduates until the closing minutes of the game.

Class 2004 actually greeted the match with an 8-0 bang, but Class '80s replied with a 10-0 burst. Class 2004 regained the upperhand at halftime, 29-27, and went on to lead for the last time at 46-45 late in the third period.

After a 48-all standoff going into the final period, Shell '80s staged a 7-0 blitz that enabled them to post a double-digit edge for the first time, 67-57. Class 2004 couldn't get any closer than four points from there onwards.

Dannel Greg Hayag had 21 points, seven assists, two rebounds and two steals for Class 2004. Kevin Mamac added 13 points, while Joseph Aljhune Areja netted 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists but couldn't make any difference as they slipped to their second straight loss.

In the other game, Aubrey Jones Ibones had 14 points and eight rebounds as JV Shop n Shop whipped the First ACY Shipping 2006, 55-46, to even its win-loss record to 3-3. Class 2006 crashed to its sixth defeat against only two victories, so far.   (FREEMAN)

The scores

First game

Class '80s (70) - S. Tan 27, Ches. Cokaliong 13, Chan 13, W. Yu 11, Chris. Cokaliong 4, Z. Tan 4         

Class 2004 (66) - Hayag 21, Mamac 13, Areja 11, Co 10, Uy 5, Sypongco 4, Alvez 2

Second game

Class '97 (55) - Ibones 14, Labus 9, Sy 6, Tan 6, Dano 4, Yu 4, Uy 4, Poligrates 3, Uyquinco 3, PJ Lee 2

Class 2006 (46) - Dy 20, Nunez 11, C. Tan 8, Tan 5, Yap 2