Welcoat 2004 spanks GCM ‘98-B in battle of unbeaten CEC teams

Welcoat Paints 2004 preyed on the absence of GCM Royale Merchandise star player Robinson Yap to outlast Class ‘98-B, 68-57, in the clash of undefeated teams in the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association’s 10th Dr. Chen Lieh Fu Memorial Cup on Wednesday night at the City Sports Club-Cebu Gym.

Thus, Class 2004 extended its winning roll to five, while snapping out of Class ‘98-B’s six-game win streak.

Class ‘98-B was heavily crippled playing sans Yap, allowing the younger graduates to control the match from start to finish.

Class 2004 ruled the first three quarters, 55-50, before finishing off Class ‘98-B with a 3-7 run in the windup.

Christian Espada did the heaviest damage on Class ‘98-B with 22 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals. Aljhune Areja chipped in 15 markers, seven assists, three rebounds and two steals for Class 2004 followed by Danel Hayag with 14 points and five assists.

Elvis Evangelista paced Class ‘98-B with 18 points and eight rebounds. Leovigildo Yu and Jed Lawrence Co tried to pick up the slack left by Yap but their combined 26-point output proved futile.

Earlier, Raymond Gollon reached the 1,000-point plateau and his big night was completed after Henkel Philippines ‘95 smothered JV Bakeshop 2002, 78-62.

He needed only seven points to achieve the feat, but Gollon hit nine markers to become the 44th member of the elite club. He also finished with five rebounds and three assists.

Donald Anthony Ting regained his deadly offensive form to topscore for Class ‘95 with 20 points, six rebounds, and three steals. Dean Dy Teves and Joseph James Yu connived for 20 points, 21 rebounds, eight assists and six blocks as they improved their win-loss record to 5-1.

Class ‘95 led by only six at the turn, 38-32, but staged a searing 28-11 run in the third to tear the game apart, 66-43.

Jobert Cuyos had the finest game of his CECABA career, finishing with 20 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists. Garry Longno was similarly explosive with 18 points and 11 rebounds, but they couldn’t celebrate fully as Class 2002 suffered its sixth loss in seven games.

The scores

First game

Class ‘95 (78) - Ting 20, Teves 10, Yu 10, Gollon 9, Gerson 8, Ong 8, Tan 5, Ho 4, Dy 4

Class 2002 (62) - Cuyos 20, Longno 18, Codilla 12, Macias 8, Yu 2, Uy 2

Second game

Class 2004 (68) - Espada 24, Areja 15, Hayag 14, Co 5, Sy 4, Mamac 4, Sypongco 4

Class ‘98-B (57) - Evangelista 18, Yu 14, Co 12, Escoton 5, Plaza 4, Tan 2, Hernani 2 (EBV)