Mawin's seizes JS hoop crown

CEBU, Philippines - Mawin’s Kitchenette blasted off Team Ritchie, 91-83, to annex the championship crown of the JS Contractors’ Cup basketball tournament at the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Gym in Brgy. Punta Princesa, this city.

Interestingly, the dominant Mawin’s stalwarts snatched the title via 10-game sweep.

The two protagonists were locked up in an intense battle with Ritchie ending the third canto with a 68-67 edge, but it was Mawin’s turn to wax hot in the fourth period as it eventually grabbed the upperhand behind a spirited rally orchestrated by flashy guard Reginald Taborada.

Taborada, who paced Mawin’s with 23 points, bombarded three triples at the final 3:46 mark of the contest, while ex-USC Warrior Bong Eleazar and Sherwin Lequit later took turns in hitting crucial shots to seal the deal for Mawin’s.

Eleazar churned out 22 points for Mawin’s, while Lequit and Mat Vallejo donated 12 markers apiece.

Sheila Gonzales topscored for Ritchie with 22 points.

Earlier, Victor Village turned the tables on Soil Guard, 88-85, to settle for third place honors. Inting Rabadon led Victor Village with 29 points, while Anthony Capacio and Rex Saberon posted 29 and 21 points, respectively, for the Soil Guard.

The scores

Mawin’s (91) - Taborada 23, Eleazar 22, S. Lequit 12, Vallejo 12, Sanding 8, Cabahug 5, Lequit 4, Pineda 3, Empenado 2

Ritchie (83) - Gonzales 22, Paguntalan 12, Jayme 11, Demecillo 7, Padigos 7, Poblete 7, Concepcion 6, Batiquin 5, Tojoy 2, Z. Canencia 2, M. Canencia 2 (GGM)   (FREEMAN NEWS)