Ave Maria, Talisay win in CBA caging

CEBU, Philippines - Ave Maria Sanctuary Park demolished Hotel Fortuna, 84-68, to move into the solo second place, while Talisay City bested host Mandaue-Cebu Landmasters, 97-88, in the 1st M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Basketball Association (MLKP-CBA) season last Sunday night at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.

With a 4-1 win-loss record, Ave Maria retained the solo second spot as they quickly bounced back from a stinging 89-93 loss to Salazar Colleges of Science and Institute of Technology (SCSIT) Skyblazers during the battle of unbeaten teams last April 3.

Enrico Llanto and ex-pro Jercules Tangkay led a well-balanced Ave Maria offense with 14 points apiece.

The beleaguered Hotel Fortuna, which missed the services of top center Marlon Basco who moved to Liga Pilipinas as well as power forward Eric Zanoria, had all five key players scoring in double figures that include Clefford Maguate with 15, Gilbert Gallarde 13, Resty Getubig 12, Marco Sagmon 11 and Jefferson Pria 10.

Jayford Rodriguez had another explosive 25-point showing as Talisay notched back-to-back wins to stay in contention after a woeful 0-3 start. Ferdinand Lusdoc and Ranulfo Malinao added 23 and 21 points, respectively, for Talisay, whose first victory was an 85-81 upset of the highly-favored Asian College of Technology (ACT) Cyber Knights.

The Landmasters, who fell to 1-4 in a tie with Hotel Fortuna, were led by the tandem of Kelvin Juliane and Franklin Nailon with 43 points combined.

The scores

First game

Ave Maria (84) - Llanto 14, Tangkay 14, Delfino 10, Dacia 9, Aying 9, France 8, Gabas 6, Abellana 5, Cavan 4, Ponce 2, Cainglet 2

Hotel Fortuna (68) - Maguate 15, Gallarde 13, Getubig 12, Sagmon 11, Pria 10, Dinago 4, Tangarorang 3

Second game

Talisay City (97) - Rodriguez 25, Lusdoc 23, Malinao 21, Reyes 9, Belande 6, Mercader 4, Colegado 4, Sereño 4, Monaco 2

Mandaue-Cebu Landmasters (88) - Juliane 22, Nailon 21, Omolon 18, Abatayo 15, Tundag 9, Dennison 5, Samonte 2 Halftime: 47-40  - BANAT NEWS