Cokaliong fuels Shell-backed squad to second victory in CECABA caging

CEBU, Philippines — The Pilipinas Shell Batch 1960/78/84/89 banked on the hot hands of top gunner Chester Cokaliong and the endgame heroics of big man Samuel Sia to pull the rug from under Central Lumber Corp. Batch 1985, 52-50, in the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association’s 17th Dr. Chen Lieh Fu Memorial Cup over the weekend at CEC’s Chiang Kai-shek Gym.

Sharp as ever at 63, Cokaliong sank four 3-pointers and went 4-of-5 from the line of his topscoring 18 points, while Jeffrey Go chipped in 12 markers as they moved to solo second place in Division A with a 2-1 win-loss record.

The Shell-backed squad trailed for most of the way but the vaunted marksman Cokaliong suddenly found his range, bombing in three tomahawks from beyond the arc to keep his side in pace with Batch 1985 in the final period.

With the scored tied at 50-all, Sia hit a crucial basket in the dying seconds to seal the deal for the oldest competing batch of CEC graduates.

Alfred Reyes sizzled with 24 points, while Joel Chan added 14 points but to no avail as Batch 1985 suffered back-to-back losses.

In other results, Fuente Oro Business Suites Batch 1994/99 and 5J’s Eatery Batch 2007/2008/2009 maintained their perfect starts of the season.

Lawrence Lauron and Albert Uy connived for 26 points as Batch 1994/99 mauled Tiger Tank 1995, 59-43, in a battle of unbeaten teams.

Batch 1994/99 thus snatched the solo lead in Division B with an immaculate 4-0 slate, while Batch 1995 fell to 4-1 despite Donald Ting’s 20-point show.

Cebu Lucky Machinery Batch 2001 remained at third place in their group with a 3-1 record after blasting RBER Industrial and Trading Corp., 65-45.

Eric Cabana paced Batch 2001 with 20 points. He was ably backed up by Aylwyn Ong, Eric Go, and Paul Gabatan with 34 combined points.

Kenneth Ang was the lone double-digit scored with 14 points for Batch 2005, which is still listless in four games.

In Division C, 5J’s Eatery Batch 2007/2008/2009 fortified its position on top of the totem pole with an unblemished 3-0 mark mark after trouncing Amorina Cleaning Services Batch 2013, 81-63.

Sherwin So and Harold Tan bannered their balanced attack with 31 points in between them. Jessie Magno netted 13 points while Paulo Cheng and Robin Chu finished with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Neil Bracero and Bryle Almirante had 14 points apiece, Bernard Aves scored 13 while Donald Salang tallied 11 markers but their efforts went in vain as Batch 2013 crashed to its third consecutive defeat.

Meanwhile, Bayfront Hotel 1993/96 and Alin Customs Brokerage 1997 evened their records at 2-2 in contrasting fashion.

Batch 1993/96 fried Dimsum Frito Batch 2003/2004, 68-43, while Batch 1997 won by forfeiture over Chanieka Hardware Batch 2000.

Alan Ting dropped 19 points for Batch 1993/96, Cedric Chua donated 17 points while Dreyfuss Ang finished with 10 points.

Daniel Hayag and Rodney Co combined for 26 points for Batch 2003/2004, which fell to sixth in Division B with a 2-3 card. — (FREEMAN)