CEBU - The Yayoy’s Grill and Resto Bar-sponsored Batch 2002 played cool under heavy pressure to walk away with a marginal 67-62 victory over 1-Utak ’96 in the 2008 University of San Carlos Boys High Alumni Basketball Association (USCBHABA) Atan Guardo Barkadahan Cup at the USC-North Campus gym.
Yayoy’s Grill of team owner and Cebu City Councilor Raul “Yayoy” D. Alcoseba closed the first half with a 36-29 advantage, but the tough-fighting 1-Utak stayed within striking distance and even threatened at 49-51 with 10 minutes left to play.
However, Yayoy’s Grill did not wilt under pressure and instead fought steadier down the stretch to preserve the five-point triumph.
Joselito Ruiz paced Yayoy’s Grill with 17 points followed by Earl Abellanosa with 14. Team manager Rocky Alcoseba, who dished out a bunch of nifty assists, and Carl Ferrer banged in 12 markers apiece for Yayoy’s Grill, which opened the match with a 20-15 bang.
The 2008 USCBHABA season is co-presented by Uniherb Philippines, one of the country’s leading health companies that produces popular food supplements such as Arthro, Heartvit, Diabet, and Kidneycare.
In an unprecedented move in the league’s eight-year history, the USCBHABA games are aired on Guardo TV Channel 6.
The scores
Yayoy’s Grill (67) - Ruiz 17, Abellanosa 14, Alcoseba 12, Ferrer 12, Move 8, Ynclinco 2, Tan 1, Bolang 1
1-Utak (62) - Espinosa 25, Chiongbian 10, Balaguan 8, Taborada 6, Abregonde 5, Boniel 5, Balintag 3
Quarterscores:20-15, 36-29, 51-49, 67-62 PR (THE FREEMAN)