Shell ‘80s secures twice-to-beat edge into CECABA quarterfinals

CEBU, Philippines - Chester Cokaliong bombarded 10 triples of his game-high 38 points as Shell '80s annihilated Argentina Corned Beef '84/87/90, 100-73, in the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association's 12th Dr. Chen Lieh Fu Memorial Cup last Sunday at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.

Class '80s, thus, closed its elimination round campaign with an 11-4 win-loss record. They are now assured of finishing at either third or fourth seed that will earn them twice-to-beat advantage going into the next stage of the four-month tournament.

The Shell-backed squad played without reliable forward Stephen Tan but it did matter as Cokaliong stepped up bigtime as well as Ryan Alexis Mendez, who had his finest game of the season cashing in 23 points on top of two rebounds and one steal.

Chester's younger brother Christopher Cokaliong also stepped up bigtime, chipping 15 points and 12 rebounds, Zotico Tan added 10 points, while Joel Chan scored only eight but had five assists and four rebounds for Class '80s, which unleashed a devastating offensive in the final half to pulverize Class '84/87/90 into smithereens.

Class '80s found Class '84/87/90 at tough customer to handle at first, leading by only three points at halftime, 41-38.

But Cokaliong and his comrades suddenly caught fire in the third period where they outscored Class '84/87/90, 27-14. They further mauled the Argentina Corned Beef-backed side in the remaining 10 minutes of the one-sided contest, 32-21, to come up with a 27-point cakewalk.

Star center Sammy Sia topscored with 25 points, 12 rebounds and three assists for Class '84/87/90. Kerwin Lim netted 14 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals, while Frederick Chua added 13 points and eight rebounds, but their efforts went for naught as Class '84/87/90 suffered its 10th loss in 13 starts.

In the other game, Joseph Aljhune Areja had 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists as the Best World Lifestyle 2004 beat JV Shop n Shop '97, 68-57, for improve its win-loss record to 9-5.

Rodney Lindimar Co added 14 points, while Eliot Emerson Uy added 10 for Class 2004, which used a strong opening statement, 16-9, to dictate the pace of the match the rest of the way.

Vincent Maynard Sy and Aubrey Jones Ibones had 14 points each, while Bryan Harry Labus tossed in 12 points and seven rebounds for Class '97, which fell to 7-7. (FREEMAN)

The scores

First game

Class '80s (100) - Ches. Cokaliong 38, Mendez 23, Chris, Cokaliong 15, Z. Tan 10, Chan 8, Yu 4, Chioson 2

Class '84/87/90 (73) - Sia 25, Lim 14, F. Chua 13, H. Chua 8, Cabellon 8, Lin 5

Second game

Class 2004 (68) - Areja 23, Co 14, Uy 10, Hayag 7, Lim 6, Chu 3, Alvez 2, Sypongco 2, Mamac 1

Class ‘97 (57) - Sy 14, Ibones 14, Labus 12, Dano 6, C. Tan 5, Poligrates 4, Uy 2