CECABA grips MCWD in MP Cup

The Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association (CECABA) stalwarts were once again pushed to the limit, but this time hang on to a 72-71 cliffhanger over the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) Quenchers in the resumption of the 1st MP Cup Invitational Basketball Tournament on Friday night at the City Sports Club-Cebu Gym.

Power-playing forward Mitchel Diputado charted 23 points, while vaunted sharp-shooter Chester Cokaliong pumped in 21 markers - all from beyond the arc - to share the game MVP honors as CECABA erased the sting of its 66-69 loss to AJL Surplus-backed RWS Stable during the season-opening match of the P.5 million cagefest.

Diputado, who failed to report for duty in their first assignment due to injury, scattered nine points in the first period to push CECABA to an early 28-17 lead. The MCWD Quenchers countered with a 19-8 rally to knot the count at 36-all at halftime.

A recharged Cokaliong came out smoking after the five-minute break, dropping   four consecutive 3-point bombs in a furious 24-6 explosion that handed the CECABA side its biggest lead of the night at 18 points, 60-42, heading into the final 10 minutes of the contest.

CECABA deftly protected a double-digit advantage, but only until the final three minutes of play as the Quenchers staged a daring fightback to pull within a hairline, 71-72, on back-to-back triples by Army Marata and Noel Ferolino with only 20 ticks left before the final buzzer.

In the ensuing play, CECABA center Sammy Sia was fouled only to add thrill to the already suspense-filled encounter as he flubbed both his free throws.

The Quenchers had a chance to steal the game, but CECABA’s defensive-minded slotman Richard Yu swatted away a potential game-winning shot by an MCWD player as the gameclock expired.

Sia and Yu combined for 17 points, while Stephen Tan added six markers for CECABA, which rolled past MCWD despite one of its key player Edvin Kaw getting nil.

Marata topped MCWD with 21 points followed by Alberto Handayan, Jr. with 12 and Richard Abatayo 10.

In the other game, the Metro Cebu Basketball Association (MCBA) of Edward Ligas rode on a powerful 29-8 endgame attack to blow off the Cebu Dental Society, 70-57.

The scores

First game

CECABA (72) - Diputado 23, Cokaliong 21, Sia 9, Yu 8, Tan 6, Lanutan 4, Cokaliong 1

MCWD (71) - Marata 21, Handayan 12, Abatayo 10, Minoza 7, Chan 7, Basirgo 3, Ferolino 3, Nicanor 2, Godin 2, Dalena 2, Bascon 2

Second game

MCBA (70) - Remedios 18, Ortiz 17, Gorosin 10, Orendain 5, Ganancial 3, Ligas 3, Aya-ay 3, Daclines 3, Adlawan 2

CDS (57) - Arcilla 10, Bardoquillo 9, Bacalla 9, Orfabia 8, De la Cruz 8, Siroy 7, Acorin 4, Carpio 2, Nuñez 2