Shooting guard Rico Tabar netted 20 of his game-high 25 points in the final half to power host Talisay Aquastars to an 87-82 conquest of the Lapu-Lapu Chiefs in the 2007 Inter-City Basketball Tournament on Friday night at the Talisay City gym.
Tabar was heavily backed up by Alfie Cabañero, who finished with 18 markers.
The elusive and acrobatic Tabar did all the best he can do from scoring and passing that somehow energized the rest of his teammates.
It was the first loss by the Chiefs after an impressive 2-0 start.
They showed their resiliency but the Aquastars proved to be more consistent even if they had a sporadic shooting in the fourth period that enabled the Chiefs to threaten, 58-59, on a basket by Mike Asoro at the start of the fourth period.
The Aquastars shelved the daring Chiefs run by breaking the game wide open with their largest lead at 14 points, 80-66, with only 1:20 left in the game.
Aaron Pancho, Manny Pancho and Dennis Pajares all scored 11 points for the Chiefs.
In the preliminary, the Mayor’s Office of Talisay led by Mayor Socrates Fernandez defeated the Gastardo Law Office, 99-94.
Over at the Danao City Sports and Civic Center, the Bogo Bogoys bounced back from their opening day loss to the Chiefs and vented their ire on Danao Pistols, 83-65. Jun Ace Ursal banged in a tournament-high 32 points as Bogo evened its win-loss record to 1-1.
The scores
(Talisay Gym)
Talisay (87) - Tabar 25, Al Cabañero 18, Bardilas 12, Ale Cabañero 11, Caparas 5, Seguerra 4, Iglamo 4, Nacario 4, Villanueva 2, Echavez 1
Lapu-Lapu (82) - A. Pancho 11, M. Pancho 11, Pajares 11, Amores 10, Arong 7, Berido 7, Dalumpines 5, Falcon 5, Baguio 4, Asoro 2, Amistad 2 Halftime: 37-all
Danao Auditorium
Bogo (83) - Ursal 32, Pelayo 15, Valenzuela 10, Balili 10, Pedrosa 8, Lubon 5, Yubangco 3
Danao (65) - Batulan 18, Paradiang 13, R. Capoy 11, Calderon 7, Lato 4, Capoy 2
Halftime: 44-40 (GGM)