CEBU, Philippines - The Tony Piloton-skippered Management team of Cebu Market Vendors and Development Cooperative (CEMVEDCO) ousted the Freedom Park cagers, 82-76, to set up a final showdown against the Ermita Tanods in the 2nd CEMVEDCO basketball tournament in Brgy. Ermita, this city.
Freedom Park raced to a 21-15 start, but CEMVEDCO Management retaliated with a furious 25-7 run in the second period to turn the tide of the match in its favor at halftime, 40-28. The lead ballooned to 18 points, 59-41, going into the final canto.
The best Freedom Park could muster was to close in at three points, 72-75, underneath the final two minutes of the contest.
High-leaping forward Paul Lemita topscored for CEMVEDCO with 24 points, while Piloton finished with 16 points. Jake Balongkit and Jomar Rosales conspired for 25 points, while CEMVEDCO president and Ermita top councilor Erwin Goc-ong added eight.
Jojo Emnace scored 20 points and Christopher Perez added 19 for Freedom Park.
The scores
CEMVEDCO (82) - Lemita 24, Piloton 16, Balongkit 13, Rosales 12, Goc-ong 8, Miñoza 5, Tago 4
Freedom Park (76) - Emnace 20, Perez 19, Bacacao 15, Tumulak 14, Coyoca 6, Huab 2 (GGM) (FREEMAN NEWS)