Cokaliong gets even with Lokal

In his finest performance this season so far, dreaded steak-shooter Chester Cokaliong sank nine triples of his 27 points to power Cokaliong Shipping Lines Inc. to a vengeful 86-81 triumph over Lokal in the 2005 Winners League basketball tournament at the City Sports Club of Cebu gym.

Not even the physical plays employed on him, the thrash-talks and heated verbal tussle against the father and son tandem of David and Carlos de los Santos can distract the rhythm of Cokaliong as he went 9-of-15 from the 3-point land enroute to a season-best output.

Top center Gilbert Gajudo was also a big factor with 16 points on top of 16 rebounds and three steals, while Richard Mercado somehow proved his worth to the team with 11 points, 10 assists and five steals. Mercado scored eight points, including a pair of crucial triples, in the final canto that helped seal Cokaliong Shipping's victory.

Lokal actually went on an early scoring spree, 10-2, to take full control in the first half, but Cokaliong Shipping exploded with a tide-turning 12-0 run capped by Chester Cokaliong's three consecutive 3-pointers to turn a 36-37 halftime deficit into a 48-37 lead.

Lokal fought back to regain its lead, 59-57, at the end of the third period, and even padded it to four, 61-57, but the red-hot Cokaliong again bombarded three straight triples and Mercado added 1 in a 12-2 blitz that put them ahead by eight points, 71-63.

Still, Lokal refused to give up and threatened at 73-74 on Alex Yeo's eight points and Jeremy Huang's undergoal stab, but Mercado and Gajudo combined efforts to give Cokaliong Shipping an 81-75 breather at the final 2:30 mark of the game.

The closest Lokal could come from there was at 81-85 as Briccio Boholst split his charities in the final 11 seconds of the game to ice the match for Cokaliong Shipping.

It was a sweet revenge for Cokaliong Shipping, which sustained a 66-70 setback to Lokal during their October 30 match.

With the win, Cokaliong Shipping, which earlier languished from its worst ever 0-3 start in the league, rose to the second spot in the standings with a 3-4 win-loss record behind the front-running Sentinel Security (7-0).

Yeo topped Lokal with 21 points, while Huang and Cecilio Gillamac chipped in 17 and 12 markers, respectively, in a losing cause.