Ozamiz cagers turn back C de Oro Stars

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY–The Ozamiz Cotta exploded for 34 points in the third quarter to crush the Cagayan de Oro Stars, 108-87, Sunday and improve its record to 2-2 in the Southern division of the NBC (National Basketball Conference) national championship at the Xavier University gym here.

After barely inching ahead, 48-46, at the turn, Ozamiz came out smoking in the second half and went on a 23-6 run in the first six minutes to pull away 71-52.

Melfred Sampilo and Rollie Basilides combined for 15 of 34 points for Mayor Reynaldo Parohinog’s Cotta in the third canto while limiting former Gov. Antonio Calingin’s Stars to 11 points to virtually decide the contest.

Ozamiz padded its lead to 97-65 midway in the final quarter.

"I just told the boys to focus on defense and play our usual game," Ozamiz coach Jun da Jose said later. "I’m glad they responded." Sampilo led Ozamiz with 24 points on 10 for 13 shooting, two rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 21-minute performance. But ex-pro Marlon Basco had a double-double performance (15 points and 15 boards) to emerge as the game’s best player.

The setback was for the fourth straight for the Stars in the tourney sponsored by Panasonic, Spring Cooking Oil, PCSO, Cebu Ferries, Air Philippines, Sulpicio Lines, Nature’s Spring Mineral Water, Supercat, Accel and Molten.

Playing before a partisan crowd of 7,000, the Stars led 23-20 at the end of the first quarter on the sallies of their newest recruit, Ike Royo, who tallied 15 of 19 points from beyond the arc.<