Coca-Cola Zero led by businessman Allan Lim ended the five-game winning streak of league pace-setter LBSM of Sammy Abellar, 100-86, in the continuing action of the 5th Punta Princesa Basketball Cup at the Vicente Sotto Memorial gym in Brgy. Punta Princesa, this city.
Coca-Cola was so dominant that it never looked back after racing to a 25-15. Its lead grew to as much as 20 points, leaving the LBSM side groggy and dazed at the final buzzer.
With the win, Coke Zero improved waxed hot in the opening quarter to record a 10-point lead with a 25-15 run and fully dominated the game the rest of the way and stretched its advantage by almost 20 points until the final buzzer.
Pointguard Lito Navarro carried the play for the Drinkmakers and dished off several assists that allowed hotshot Robert Abasolo to unload a game-high 30 points. Navarro and James Loyd Noel finished with 16 points apiece, while Allan Lim and Fritz Sullano connived for 20 markers as Coke Zero improved its win-loss record to 3-2.
Rowel Sumalinog had 21 points for LBSM, which also drew twin figures from Tin Atillo, Rio Arias, Junard Ciabo and Sammy Abellar.
In the other game, Wilkris of Lando Almojallas trounced BIAR, 96-75. Louie Navarro and Boboy Rosito topped Wilkris with 30 and 17 points, respectively. Petoy Mata and the high-leaping Tata Vilbar chipped in 27 points combined as they bettered their record to 3-2.
The scores
First game
Coca Cola (100) – Abasolo 30, Navarro 16, Noel 16, Lim 10, Sullano 10, Legaria 8, Cabsan 4, Bacarias 4, Tecson 2
LBSM (86) – Sumalinog 21, T. Atillo 16, Arias 14, Ciabo 13, Abellar 10, B. Atillo 6, Panique 4, Zuñiga 2
Second game
Wilkris (96) – Navarro 30, Rosito 17, Mata 15, Vilbar 12, Cañete 10, Cayobit 4, Almojallas 2, Go 2, Leuterio 2, Badrina 2
BIAR (75) – K. Arellano 17, Cadao 14, A. Arellano 10, Batiquin 10, Cavite 7, Abbu 6, Caballes 5, Amores 4, Albor 2 – Marchie Jane C. Trangia