Ave Maria wins opener in CBA finals

CEBU, Philippines - The grizzled veterans of Ave Maria Sanctuary Park led by the indefatigable Aldrin Ocañada showed they still have bullets in their offensive arsenal after they stunned the title-favorite Salazar Colleges of Science and Institute of Technology (SCSIT) Skyblazers, 83-79, to move one step away from claiming the historic championship of the 1st M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Basketball Association (CBA) season the other night at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.

Ocañada and Alex Cainglet connived for 35 points as Ave Maria of coach Edito Salacut needed only to beat SCSIT in Game 2 to take home the P200,000 grand prize.

Mark Abadia and Stephen Padilla hit 25 and 23 points, respectively, as they were accounted for more than three-fourths of the team's total output but their efforts were to no avail.   ( FREEMAN NEWS)