CECABA cagers outsmart IBP Crunchicken-JBA downs Casino Filipino-Mactan for first win in MP Cup hoop

In another fine display of catch-and-shoot ability, dreaded triggerman Chester Cokaliong rifled seven triples of his season-high 24 points to power Shell-Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association (CECABA) to a 64-54 spanking of Philippine Farmers Bank-Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in the 1st MP Cup Invitational over the weekend at the USC-Main Gym.

The CECABA cagers dictated the tempo of the match from start to finish and everytime IBP attempted to close in, Cokaliong came to the rescue with his trademark long-range bombing.

Cokaliong, who averaged 20.25 points per game with all of his 81 points in four games coming from the 3-point land, knocked in back-to-back triples in between Richard Yu’s basket to give CECABA its biggest lead of 13 points, 55-42, in the final 5:41 mark.

IBP threatened for the last time, 51-56, on Jesus Velez’s 3-pointer entering the final two-minute zone of the contest as Yu, Mitchel Diputado, Richard Lanutan, and Cokaliong hit the insurance free throws for CECABA.

Before the final buzzer honked though, a slight commotion broke out when CECABA pointguard Richard Lanutan was whistled for a technical foul for elbowing IBP’s Ramsey Quijano.

Lanutan’s actuation was uncalled for as they already headed to victory, 61-52, with only 24 seconds left to play. Fortunately, proverbial pacifists swiftly put the situation under control.

Diputado, who shot 14-of-17 from the foul line, backed up Cokaliong with 17 points as CECABA joined Team Pacman of boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao at second in Bracket A standings with similar 3-1 win-loss records.

CECABA closed the first period with an 18-7 lead, but IBP countered with a 20-6 rally to wrest the driver’s seat, 27-24. The dribbling lawyers, however, were in control only for a brief moment as the Easternians retaliated with an 8-0 blitz to regain the lead for good at halftime, 32-27.

  Richard Bauzon carded in 17 points followed by Ian Santos with 11 for IBP, which suffered its second setback in three starts.

In the other game, Henry Azcarga netted 14 points and Chito Hernandez added 12 as Crunchicken-Jaycees Basketball Association (JBA) of Boy Te and Benedict Chua chalked up its first win via a 58-50 decision over Casino Filipino-Mactan. Chua and Joey Cruz chipped in seven markers apiece.

JBA was down by two after the first 10 minutes of play, 15-17, but shot to life in the second period where it posted a 19-12 scoring edge to gain a five-point headway at the turn, 34-29.

JBA then threw a solid defensive blanket to neutralize Casino Filipino-Mactan’s attack in the final half and eventually even its win-loss record to 1-1.

Eric Relampagos exploded with 27 points, but his solitary offensive show was to no effect as Casino Filipino-Mactan absorbed its third loss in four games. —EBV