Allied Bank, Wealth Bank drub foes in CUBA hoop

Allied Bank blew hot and cold before handing the CUBA Kings their first loss, 75-66, while Wealth Bank squandered a 17-point lead in the first quarter but regrouped in time to frustrate the listless CUBA Spurs, 63-59, in the 2008 Cebu United Bankers Association (CUBA) First Conference basketball tournament at the Our Lady of Sacred Heart Parish Gym.

Allied Bank led by eight at the end of the first period, 21-13, but the CUBA Kings charged back in the second period, 21-11, to wrest the driver’s seat at the intermission, 34-32.

However, Allied Bank shot back to life in the third canto to grab the lead for good, 58-55.

Thus, Allied Bank bettered its win-loss record to 2-1, while the CUBA Kings saw their three-game winning streak come to a sudden red stop.

Earlier, Wealth Bank got off to a flying 28-11 start. The CUBA Spurs consistently whittled down the deficit as the game progressed, but the Wealth Bank stalwarts proved to be a tough nut to crack at crunchtime and held on a four-point victory.

The CUBA Spurs slumped to their fourth straight defeat in as many starts.

The scores

First game

Wealth Bank (63) - Allera 17, Rizada 11, Ortiz 9, Miñoza 6, Navarro 6, Osorio 6, Mirafuentes 4, Dominguez 4

CUBA Spurs (59) -  Lapuz 15, So 11, Maravilla 9, Tapaya 8, Cenita 6, Martinez 6, Olalo 4

Quarterscores:28-11, 37-25, 47-41, 63-59

Second game

Allied Bank (75) - Nemenzo 19, Mancera 15, Palarca 9, Dave 9, Ong 7, Kim 6, Yu 5, Dre 5

CUBA Kings (66) - Letrero 18, Aparri 11, Yap 10, Go 10, Solon 6, Dabon 5, Castillo 4, Chua 2

Quarterscores:21-13, 32-34, 58-55, 75-66 —EBV