SCSIT forges knockout duel vs. Ave Maria in CBA finals

CEBU, Philippines -With the way they played in Game 2, it appeared that the Salazar Colleges of Science and Institute of Technology (SCSIT) Skyblazers are hungrier for the title as they smothered Ave Maria Sanctuary Park, 88-70, to even their best-of-three finals series at one game apiece in the 1st M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Basketball Association (MLKP-CBA) season last Thursday at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.

The Skyblazers dropped the series opener last Sunday, 79-83, but the other day, their three key players in Stephen Padilla,Rino Berame and Mark Abadia sowed terror on the hardcourt by connniving for 72 points, leaving the rest of the team to produce only 16 points.

Padilla and Bereme scattered 25 points each, while Abadia banged in 22 markers.

Ave Maria, playing without the injured Jercules Tangkay, still relied on Aldrin Ocañada, who finished with 15 points followed by Bruce Dacia with 13 points.

Manny Gabas and Jabe Delfino added 12 and 10 points, respectively, for Ave Maria, who trailed most of they way.

The deciding Game 3 will be played this Sunday at the Cebu Coliseum. The winner will take home P200,000 courtesy of M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala and the Cebu City Sports commission. (FREEMAN)