DBTC upsets CIT in Partner's Cup tilt

CEBU, Philippines - The Prime Asia-DBTC Greywolves relied on the backcourt savvy of ace pointguard Celso Colegado to upset Bibbo-CIT Wildcats, 80-71, and finally barge into the win column of the 4th CESAFI Partners’ Cup at the Cebu Coliseum.

Earlier, Sam Hermosa bagged his third straight player of the game award after he sank a booming 3-pointer with nine seconds left to play to lift the San Marino Corned Tuna-USC Warriors to a 75-73 nail-biter

over the Aerosol-USPF Panthers.

Colegado, who tended the backcourt with precision, confused his defenders by scoring from one end and dishing off assists on the other end. His last basket settled the final outcome but it was the crucial three-point play by Chris de la Rama that gave Don Bosco a 74-65 breather in the final five minutes of the contest.

Colegado had 14 points, while Joseph Villaver added 11 for the Greywolves, who snapped out of their four-game losing skid.

The Wildcats, who were caught under the worst game by veterans Jerry Jaca and Gerry Cavan, were led Arnel Ipang with 14 markers.

In the other game, Michael Cantonao topscored for the Warriors with 15 points, while Hermosa scored 14 as they fortified their hold of the second spot with a 4-1 win-loss record.

Arletroy Mercader and Dennis Ferraren fired 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the Panthers, who slipped to 1-2.

The scores

First game

San Marino-USC (75) - Cantonao 15, Hermosa 14, Cortes 9, Padillo 5, Duran 5, Panerio 5, Bakker 4, Codilla 3, Bercede 3, Reyes 3, Bautista 2

Aerosol-USPF (73) - Mercader 12, D. Ferraen 11, Labares 10, Rivera 8, Dajalos 8, Cabahug 5, Sereño 4, Ferraren 4, Bardillas 4, Fuentes 3, Avila 2, Nudalo 2

Second game

Prime Asia-DBTC (80) - Colegado 14, Villaver 11, Dela Rama 9, Aldave 9, Hernando 8, Tirado 7, Guba 5, Labagala 3, Lumapas 3, Espiritu 3, Georsua 2, Tecson 2

Bibbo-CIT (71) - Ipang 14, Jaca 9, Cavan 9, Curso 9, Taboada 8, Dela Cañete 8, Dela Cerna 4, Molero 3, Lopez 3, Resilla 2, Elmaga 2 (GGM)   (FREEMAN NEWS)