Cokaliong’s Shell-backed team clinches No.2 spot in Division A
The Pilipinas Shell Batch 1978/84/89 fashioned out a convincing 56-41 victory over Foodies Junction Batch 70s/82/86/87 to clinch the No.2 seed in Division A of the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association’s 17th Dr. Chen Lieh Fu Memorial Cup at CEC’s Chiang-kai Shek Gym.
Top gunner Chester Cokaliong produced all of his game-high 15 points from the 3-point land, flashy guard Ryan Alexis Mendez netted 13 points, while reliable big man Sammy Sia chipped in 10 markers as the Shell-sponsored team earned a twice-to-beat incentive in the crossover semifinals as second ranked in their group with a 4-2 win-loss record.
Cokaliong, still sharp and deadly on the floor at 63 years old, dropped three crucial bombs from beyond the arc in the final quarter. The prolific outside gunner capped his stellar showing with a rare steal, after which he issued a nifty assist leading to a wide-open triple by Mendez.
Robert Fabian and John Quilacio connived for 26 points but to no avail as they suffered their fourth loss in five starts.
In Division B, the Lucky Machinery Batch 2001 edged Bayfront Hotel Batch 1993/1996 by the slimmest of margins, 67-66.
Paul Martin Gabatan and Eric Cabana had 40 points in between them, while Eric Galvin Go contributed 18 points as Batch 2001 joined its victim at third place with similar 4-3 slates.
Cedric Chua posted 17 points while Alan Ting and Bradley Nadela banged in 15 points each but they went home on a pensive mood as Batch 1993/1996 sustained its third setback.
In other duel, Reniel Peña pumped in 27 points and Brian Lo cashed in 12 points as Chanieka Hardware Batch 2000 blasted RBER Industrial and Trading Corp. Batch 2005, 52-40, for its second win in seven matches.
Meanwhile, the Northern Star Trading Batch 2011/2012 handed 5J’s Eatery its first taste of defeat via a 76-75 cliffhanger in Division C.
Marven Bauya exploded for 33 points, Rex Villarosa scored 15, while Jed Ruiz and Raymond Sypongco tallied an identical 13 points for Batch 2011/2012, which now holds a 4-2 card.
Christian Espada fired 26 points while Harold Tan and Paolo Cheng nailed 12 points apiece but their efforts went for naught as Batch 2007/2008/2009 saw its four-game winning streak come to a sudden red stop.
On the other hand, Shann Tan fired 25 points while Joseph Cisneros and Johnedel Chi conspired for 33 points as Helm Construction and Supplies Batch 2014 raised its mark to 3-2 with an 89-84 triumph over the listless Amorina Cleaning Services Batch 2013.
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