KNM ‘88, Fuente Oro ‘94/99 stay undefeated in CECABA

CEBU, Philippines — The KNM & Toxic Wheels Batch 1988 and Fuente Oro Business Suites Batch 1994/99 maintained their perfect starts 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.

Gregorio Aguilar spearheaded a balanced attack with 24 points as Batch ‘88 overcame an explosive 46-point performance of the ageless Chester Cokaliong to trounce Pilipinas Shell Batch 1960/78/84/89, 94-76.

Four others cracked double figures for Batch 1988, which kept the older graduates at bay after surging to a huge 50-25 advantage at halftime.

Rey Kenneth Ng and Robert Lim netted an identical 14 points, while Ernest Tanting and Richard Yu chipped in 10 markers apiece as they firmed up their grip of the Division A leadership with an immaculate 4-0 record.

It was a sorry loss for Shell’s 63-year-old top gunner Cokaliong, who sank an amazing 14 3-pointers and went 2-of-3 from the foul line en route to a tournament-high 46 points, albeit in a losing cause that dropped them to 2-2.

In the other Division A duel, Batch 1970/82/86/87 finally barged into the win column with a 55-40 drubbing of Central Lumber Corp. Batch 1985.

Robert Fabian tallied 14 points, while John Quilacio added 12 as the Foodies Junction-backed squad snapped out of its two-game skid.

Alfred Reyes sizzled with 26 points while CECABA President Joel Chan finished with 12 points but to no avail as Batch 1985 crashed to its third setback in a row.

Over in Division B, Batch 1994/99 once again turned to the hot hands of Mark Eugene Bukiron to obliterate the hapless Dimsum Frito Batch 2003/2004, 92-44. Bukiron dished out a scintillating 36-point show for Batch 1994/99, which never looked back after cruising to an early 26-14 lead.

Batch 2003/2004 pulled within seven at the break, 34-41, but Batch 1994/99 went on a 24-6 scoring splurge in the third frame before closing the match with a 27-4 bang to seal the 48-point blowout.

Troy Tan cashed in 19 points while Eric Cabasa and Albert Uy connived for 22 points as Batch 1994/1999 stayed on top of the heap with an unblemished 5-0 slate.

On the other hand, Tiger Tank Batch 1995 kept its hold of the second place with a 5-1 card after outlasting Alin Customs Brokerage Batch 1997, 59-53.

Donald Anthony Ting showed the way for Batch 1995 with 36 points, while Joseph James Yu donated 11 points.   Allan Uy Quiengco and Timothy Tan both posted 13 points for Batch 1997, which fell to 2-3.

Still in Division B, Cedric Chua sank 10 triples of his 33 points as Bayfront Hotel Batch 1993/96 annihilated Chanieka Hardware Batch 2000, 93-48.

Roger Donayre and Norman Lopez registered 31 points in between them while Dave Mark Uy tossed in 12 markers as Batch 1993/96 improved to 3-2.

Batch 2000 slumped to its fifth straight defeat despite drawing 30 combined points from Reniel Peña and Alfred Yu.

In Division C, Marven Bauya sizzled with 22 points as the Northern Star Trading Batch 2011/2012 escaped past Helm Construction & Supplies Batch 2014 by the narrowest of margins, 62-61.

Willy Lim, Raymond Sypongco, and Rex Villarosa all charted 10 points for Batch 2011/2012, which now holds a 2-1 mark.

Louis Tan came up with 22 points while Mark Vincent Berdera unloaded 15 markers but their efforts went for naught as Batch 2014 absorbed its second setback in three games. — (FREEMAN)