Meneses powers Pinoys on ASEAN veterans tiff

MANILA, Philippines - Vergel Meneses flashed vintage form to help power the Team Filipino Chinese Veterans Basketball League (FCVBA) B to a pulsating 57-53, win over defending champion Kuala Lumpur in the 18th Asean Veterans Basketball League-BF Cup at the Marist Basketball gym in Marikina City last Tuesday.

The one-time PBA MVP tallied 21 points while Sonny Cabatu and Benet Palad, who also played in the pro league in the 80s, came through with clutch free throws as the FCVBA B cagers survived the Malaysians at the start of the 40-years-and above division competition.

Atoy Co, another former PBA MVP in the star-studded squad, and Alfonso Kaw combined for 11 points as FCVBA B firmed up its bid as the team to beat in their division.

In the other game, FCVBA A, behind the efforts of Bong Tan Jr., Jerry Codineda, Alvin Teng and Joey Sta. Maria, routed Miri of Malaysia, 57-43.

Tan led all FCVBA A scorers with 14 points, including three triples.

Action in the 50 years division, however, almost turned into a brawl as former PBA rivals – Bong dela Cruz of Crispa and Lim Eng Beng of Utex – nearly came into blows.

In the end, Beng’s FCVBA, managed by Jimi Lim and Eduard Tio, prevailed over Dela Cruz’s Philippine Chinese Friendship Basketball League (PCFBL), 62-54, to advance to the Final Four.

Former Rain or Shine coach Leo Austria led FCVBA with 19 points while Elmer Reyes had 14 points, including a crucial three-point play that completed the team’s comeback.

Aries Franco, also a former pro, paced PCFBL with 15 points while ex-Ginebra star Romy Mamaril and Michael Young combined for 22 points. Dela Cruz was ejected late in the game unsportsmanlike conduct.

In other 50 years results, Kuala Lumpur dumped Singapore, 54-39; Kuching (Malaysia) crushed Seremban, 46-27; and Miri outsteadied Brunei, 68-57.

PCFBL made up for the stinging defeat of their counterparts by downing Hat Yai of Thailand, 38-22, in the 60 years divisions while Singapore humbled Kuching, 46-30.