LISO, CECABA stars start semis with wins

The Liloanon Sports Organization (LISO) selection and the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association (CECABA) All-Stars are on course for a championship showdown after they crushed separate foes at the start of the 2005 Executive's Cup basketball semifinals on Tuesday night at the City Sports Club of Cebu gym. The LISO selection blew hot and cold before reasserting its mastery over Club Monday with an 89-79 win, while the CECABA All-Stars squandered a 19-point lead, but recovered in time to pull off a vengeful 81-70 victory over San Carlos Boys High Alumni Basketball Association (SCBHABA).

Power-playing center Sammy Sia, who shot 9-of-18 from the field, became the star of the night for the CECABA All-Stars as he topscored with 21 points on top of 15 rebounds and two assists, while Edvin Kaw is back in his old form, finishing with 15 points, three assists and three rebounds on an 8-of-14 sniping from the field.

Chester Cokaliong contributed 13 points highlighted by a nice steal off SCBHABA's cat-quick playmaker Edwin Banaag and two crucial 3-pointers that gave the CECABA All-Stars a breather in the closing minutes of the game.

The CECABA All-Stars were ahead by 19 points, 30-11, early in the second period, but SCBHABA fought back tenaciously to trim the deficit down to only nine, 58-49.

However, Cokaliong came into the CECABA All-Stars' rescue by drilling in two triples in a 14-8 spread that installed back their 15-point advantage, 72-57, and virtually put the game out of SCBHABA's reach.

Zotico Tan donated 13 points and five assists, Wilson Yu had nine points, 12 rebounds and two steals, while Joel Chan was held off to only five points, but dished out a tournament-high 12 assists and six rebounds for the CECABA All-Stars.

Edwin Banaag led SCBHABA with 24 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four steals, but had little help from the rest of his teammates.

CECABA's win forged a three-way tie with SCBHABA and Club Monday on identical 5-3 win-loss slates in the tournament supported by Osaka Iridology and Manang Gina's Lutuing Bahay in cooperation with Imports Unlimited, Sunsport, Gloria Jean's Coffees-Banilad Town Centre and Grand Gemini Ventures Corp.

The CECABA All-Stars, however, could practically wrap up a finals berth if ever they will beat Club Monday in tonight's first game at 7:30 pm.

Meanwhile, Abder Desiderio fired 24 points, while Renato Jugalbot added 12 markers for LISO selection, which trailed by two after three quarters,59-61, but launched a devastating 30-18 endgame attack to turn the tide of the match in its favor at the final buzzer.

First game
CECABA All-Stars (81) - Sia 21, Kaw 15, Cokaliong 13, Tan 12, Yu 9, Chua 6, Chan 5 SCBHABA (70) - Banaag 24, Pua 9, Amores 9, Diaz 7, Monsanto 7, Sepe 4, Diaz 4, Moriles 2, Wong 2, Ramos 2

Second game
LISO (89) - Desiderio 24, Jugalbot 16, Ybañez 12, Oncined 10, Cañete 6, Pepito 5, Maglasang 4, Soliman 4, Bio 4, Del Mar 2, Torlao 2
Club Monday (79) - Alfeche 20, Macasero 17, Seno 12, Nardo 12, Sarasaba 6, Fernandez 6, Reyes 2, Bantolinao 2, Del Mar 2