Shell '78/85 routs '98-A

CEBU, Philippines – The Pilipinas Shell-backed Class ’78/85 recorded what is by far the most lopsided win in the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association’s 11th Dr. Chen Lieh Fu Memorial Cup courtesy of a 41-point massacre of MFL Mini-Mart ’98-A, 117-76, on Tuesday night at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.

Explosive gunner Chester Cokaliong was in his usual devastating form, firing in a season-best 42 points packed with a tournament-high 10 triples. He tossed in 16 points during a crippling 33-11 rally in the second quarter that turned a once close contest into a one-sided affair in favor of Class ’78/85 at halftime, 54-30.

Wilty Yap and Joseph Tio joined the fray in the third quarter as Class ’78/85 further battered the hapless Class ’98-A to mount an eye-popping 41-point advantage, 89-48, heading into the final 10 minutes of the contest. The outcome of the match was beyond doubt from there onwards.

Wilson Yu scored 17 of his 19 points in the first half for Class ’78/85. He also submitted five assists, four rebounds, and two steals.

Three other players cashed in double figures as Class ’78/85 tightened its grip of the Division I lead with a 9-1 win-loss record. Yap finished with 18 points, seven assists, six rebounds and two steals, while Tio posted a season-high 14 points on top of five rebounds and two steals. Edvin Kaw also had 14 points and eight rebounds.

Spunky guard Joel Chan, who carved a triple-double three times already this season, scored only three but etched his name in stone for dishing out an all-time high 19 assists. Overall, it was his fourth double-double of the year as he also pulled down 16 rebounds.

Rex Millan unloaded 37 points on top of 10 rebounds and three steals but his big night was spoiled as Class ’98-A slumped to 4-6. Paul Timothy So banged in 15 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists, seven steals and two blocks in an all-around show of hardcourt brilliance albeit for a losing cause.

In the other game, JRJ Enterprises/Semers 2007 beat the skidding Cebu Diamond Auto Parts 2000 by the narrowest of margins, 48-47, to even its win-loss record to 4-4.

Juan Carlo Espada pumped in 20 points, five rebounds and two assists for Class 2007. Pimco Pimental had 18 points, five rebounds and two steals, while Lorenz Azarraga added 12 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists for Class 2000, which fell to 3-7.

The scores

First game

Class ’78/85 (117) — Cokaliong 42, Yu 19, Yap 18, Tio 14, Kaw 14, Palomas 7, Chan 3

Class ’98-A (76) — Millan 37, P. So 15, E. So 9, Santos 8, Lim 7

Second game

Class 2007 (48) —Espada 20, Pilapil 9, Haw 8, Dy 4, Quimbo 4, Chu 3

Class 2000 (47) — Pimentel 18, Azarraga 12, Boltron 10, Mercadal 3, Pellejera 2, Yu 2 —EBV (THE FREEMAN)