Panthers reign supreme in Elite Season 6 caging

CEBU, Philippines - The heavily favored Panthers cruised to a 106-97 victory over the surprise finalist Seahawks to win the championship of the Elite Basketball Tournament Season 6 recently at the Visayan Glass gym in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.

In a duel that featured several lead changes and game-changing runs in the first half, the Seahawks looked on the verge of upsetting the Panthers after establishing a 58-50 lead on a booming triple by Christian Gicain with five minutes to play in the third quarter.

However, the lead was shortlived as the Panthers, who showed poise and composure like any championship caliber team, turned the eight-point deficit into a 66-63 lead in the closing seconds of the third behind the efforts of Rory Paspie, Neil Buot and Mark Panerio.

Seahawks’ John Velasco later equalized the count at 66-all going into the last 10-minute mark of the contest.

The Panthers came out with guns ablaze in the fourth, with Panerio, Paspie, Buot and Ian Ocampo putting their acts together to take a 13-point edge, 85-72, with 5:38 remaining.

The Seahawks could only close in at 86-94 with 1:48 to go as the Panthers held on their ground to seal the deal.

Panerio and Buot paced the Panthers with 28 points apiece, while Rory Paspie chipped in 18 points.

Velasco led the Seahawks with 26 points, while Christian Gicain and Raymond Dennis Tan had 15 and 14 points, respectively, in a losing cause. (FREEMAN)