CECABA All-Stars on brink of historic crown, Monday Hoopers claim third-place trophy
CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association (CECABA) All-Stars hammered the Toyota Mandaue North, 112-77, to move a win away from the historic championship of the 1st Edgar Cokaliong Memorial Cup Basketball Tournament sponsored by Shell Pilipinas Corporation Tuesday night, October 6, at the Don Edgar Stadium of Cokaliong Tower.
BJ Zosa and Paul Martin Gabatan spearheaded CECABA’s wire-to-wire victory with 21 points apiece.
The sharpshooting Chester Cokaliong nailed five 3-pointers en route to a 15-point finish for the Easternians, who seized command early, 31-18, and never looked back.
CECABA took a commanding 62-39 lead at halftime and then put the game away in the final quarter, 29-17, resulting in a 35-point rout.
Mark Eugene Bukiron and Dean Dy Teves also made significant contributions with 14 and 12 points, respectively.
Aside from their balanced offensive performance, the CECABA stars also did well defensively, holding Toyota Mandaue’s top gunner Dionesio Espinosa to only eight points.
JP Batac paced Toyota Mandaue with a game-high 27 points. James Lan scored 14, while Marlon Lao had 10 points in a losing cause.
Game 2 is set for Monday, October 12.
In the thrilling battle for third place, Nario Salibay hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer as the Monday Hoopers stunned the Wednesday Club by the narrowest of margins, 100-99.
With his side trailing by two points, 97-99, in the final six seconds, Salibay showed iron nerves by knocking down the game-winning triple to the delight of his entire team.
Salibay finished with 21 points and delivered the big shot for the Monday Hoopers.
Raj Advani and Oliver Yguinto posted an identical 23 points, while Loling Abella chipped in 12 points for the bronze medalists.
Jonel Camboanga paced Wednesday Club with 22 points, Michael Viliran and Alvin Bustos combined for 35 points.
Reil Young came up with 15 points, Eboy Tabz contributed 13, while Cyfandel Amora bagged 10 points but their efforts went for naught.
The scores
For third place
Monday Hoopers (100) - Yguinto 23, Advani 23, Salibay 21, Abella 12, Eriso 7, Dizon 7, Mata 6
Wednesday Club (99) - Camboanga 22, Viliran 18, Bustos 17, Young 15, Eboy Tabz 13, Amora 10, Tero 2, Stella 2
Quarterscores: 29-19; 47-45;69-71;100-99
Game 1, Finals
CECABA All-Stars (112) - Zosa 21, Gabatan 21, Cokaliong 15, Bukiron 14, Dy Teves 12, Tan 7, JJ Yu 6, R. Yu 4, Tiu 4, Bauya 2, Magno 2, Chan 2
Toyota Mandaue (77) - Batac 27, Lan 14, Lao 10, Estremos 8, Espinosa 8, Negros 6, Soco 4
Quarterscores: 31-18;62-39;83-60;112-77.
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