Dragons, Lions triumph in CUBA caging

CEBU - The Yellow Dragons and Red Lions opened their respective title bids on a rousing note in the second conference of the 2008 Cebu United Bankers Association (CUBA) Inter-Color basketball tournament at the Our Lady of Sacred Heart Parish gym along Escario Street, this city.

Richard Allera had 16 points and Robert Rafson Chua banged in 14 markers as the Yellow Dragons devoured the Green Archers in come-behind-fashion, 69-61, while the Red Lions swallowed the Blue Eagles, 72-67.          

William ‘Iam’ Aparri and Baco combined for 22 points for the Yellow Dragons, who trailed for most of the way including a seven-point deficit, 43-50, going into the final 10 minutes of the contest. But the diehard YellowDragons countered with a back-breaking 26-11 rally in the windup to clinch the win.

In the first game, the Red Lions was never threatened after taking an early 21-14 lead, which grew to 14 points at the break, 44-30.

The Blue Eagles pulled within three points, 49-52, but the Red Lions played steadier down the stretch to hang on to a five-point victory.

Ronron Yap paced the Green Archers with 15 points, followed by Machado with 12 markers and Dax Navarro with 10 in a losing cause.

The scores

First game

Red Lions (72) - Go 14, Martinez 14, Rosal 13, Mabanto 10, Bacalla 7, Pajares 6, Olalo 5, Bacalla 3, Teves 2

Blue Eagles (67) - Gabales 17, Tingzon 10, Minoza 9, Osorio 9, Rizada 8, Bargamentos 7, Minoza 6, Mirafuentes 1

Quarterscores:21-14, 44-30, 52-49, 74-67

Second game

Yellow Dragons (69) - Allera 16, Chua 14, Baco 12, Aparri 10, Malahay 9, Cenita 6, Bernas 2

Green Archers (61) - Yap 15, Machado 12, Navarro 10, Maravilla 8, Go 5, Ornopia 4, Eders 3, Cataros 2, Lim 2

Quarterscores:15-18, 30-36, 43-50, 69-61—EBV (THE FREEMAN)