Versacool dethrones Lite Shipping in JBA

Power-playing forward Jeremy Huang sparkled with 28 points as Versacool Car Air-conditioning of Dennis Tan dethroned Lite Shipping, 68-63, to clinch the championship of the 11th Jaycees Basketball Association (JBA) season last Sunday at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.

Huang, son of sports leader and basketball patron Jack Huang,  had the luxury of scoring from almost all angles, but he thrived heavily at the low post area where he gobbled up the defense of Lite Shipping’s Chris Sta. Maria, Joseph Jayme, and Ado Pono.

Although Huang was the man of the hour, Benedict Chua and Jojo Cruz also played key roles in taming Lite Shipping with 14 and 11 points, respectively, for Versacool.

“Naka-tsamba lang gyud. Kumpyansa sad tingali sila (We’re just lucky. Maybe they’re also too overconfident),” said Chua.

Lite Shipping, behind the tandem of Jimbo Noel and Sta. Maria, crumbled towards the closing minutes of the game when both teams engaged into a see-saw battle.

Lite Shipping dictated the tempo of the match in the entire first period, but when Versacool weathered the storm, it took complete command the rest of the way.

Sta. Maria and Noel had 16 and 15 points, respectively, for Lite Shipping. The missing link was Edmund Odulio, who averaged almost 30 points in their past three games, but was handcuffed to only 11 markers in the sudden-death final.

The scores             

Versacool (68) - Huang 28, Chua 14, Cruz 11, Sy 9, Tolentino 2, Ong 2, Yap 2

Lite Shipping (63) - Sta. Maria 16, Noel 15, Odulio 11, Jayme 8, Pono 7, Te 6 (GGM)