Asian Home Appliance ’89/93 and Petrogas/Corner Bakery ’92 came out victorious in the final elimination round games of the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association’s 10th Dr. Chen Lieh Fu Memorial Cup at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.
Flashy guard Ryan Alexis Mendez had 28 points, four steals and three assists as Class ’89/93 blasted the undermanned Shell ’78/85, 65-38, while Class ’92 had four players dishing out monstrous performances in its 87-73 whacking of Chester Enterprises ’82/83.
Mendez was heavily backed up by Edison Ong with a career-high double-double, finishing with 21 points on top of a tournament-best 27 rebounds for Class ’89/93, which wound up sixth seed in Division I with a 3-5 win-loss record.
Class ’78/85, which was already assured of a fourth spot in Division I with an even 4-4 slate, rested top gunners Chester Cokaliong, Wilson Yu, and Edvin Kaw to better prepare themselves in the tough quarterfinal phase.
Sans the vaunted Class ’78/85 triumvirate, Class ’89/93 toyed on its foes with relative ease. They never looking back after raiding the first half with a 34-18 advantage.
In the other non-bearing encounter, Class ’92 easily disposed Class ’82/83, but it did not alter its position as seventh seed in Division I with a 3-5 win-loss record. Class ’82/83 ranked third with a 5-3 card.
Richard Lanutan topped Class ’92 with 20 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals followed by Steven Ngo with 19 points, 0 rebounds and four assists. Alvin Albano and Michael Lim donated 18 markers apiece.
Despite its loss, Class ’82/83 still enjoys twice-to-beat advantage against its victim in the next round, in the same way with Class ’78/85 against VAG Trading ’94. Dewfoam ’88 is the top seed in Division I with a 7-1 record, while Welcoat Paints 2004, the only undefeated team this season, is ranked No.1 in Division II with a 10-0 mark.
Class ’82/83 scoring machine Stephen Tan was also happier as he breached the 2,000-point plateau, becoming the only eighth player to reach the milestone in the league’s 10-year history. Tan finished with23 points, 15 rebounds, and six assists.
The scores
First game
Mendez (65) - 28, Ong 21, Chiang 6, Lao 6, Ong 2, Yap 2
Class ’78/85 (38) - Manda 12, Tio 11, Pamolas 6, Tan 4, Wong 4, Yap 1
Second game
Class ’92 (87) - Lanutan 20, Ngo 19, Albano 18, Lim 18, Dy 8, Yu 4
Class ’82/83 (73) - Co 24, S. Tan 23, Cokaliong 8, Ku 8, Lee 4, Pereña 4, Leung 2