Prime Asia sweeps Kia Motors UV Lancers, Belano clinch back-to-back titles in CESAFI Partner's Cup

CEBU, Philippines - Francisco Arong sank three 3-pointers including the go-ahead basket from beyond the arc as the Prime Asia-UV Lancers swept Kia Motors/CIT-U Wildcats in their best-of-five finals series with an 84-78 victory in Game 3 to clinch the title of the 6th CESAFI Partner's Cup men's basketball tournament last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Actually, it's a back-to-back championship for the UV Green Lancers and their head coach Felix “Donbel” Belano, Jr. as they also won the crown last year with Lion Tiger Katol as corporate backer. Lion Tiger, manned this time by the USJ-R Jaguars, failed to advance into the finals this season after being ousted by Kia Motors in the semis.

After Arong's third long-range bomb gave Prime Asia a 68-66 lead, Phil Mercader knocked in another bone-crushing trey to pad their lead to five, 71-66, entering the last two-minute zone of the contest. Mercader finished with only eight points but converted two meaningful 3-pointers, the first one gave Prime Asia its biggest lead of 13 points, 59-46, with only 18 seconds left in the third period.

Kia Motors, who was without coach Gilbert Demape, threatened for the last time at 68-71 as Prime Asia held on its ground until the final buzzer to squeeze out an eight-point victory.

Kia Motors took an early 21-18 lead and sustained it only until the 28-25 count as Prime Asia responded with a 7-to-nothing run to wrest the upperhand, 32-28, at the turn.

Arong scattered 18 points, but it was star center Wowie Escocio who topscored for Prime Asia with 21 points.

Eman Calo added 12 markers, while John Abad and Mercader combined for 17 points.

Versatile pointman Floyd Taboada paced Kia Motors with 15 points, while Vincent Menguito and Axel Rabaya conspired for 27 points in a losing cause.

The scores

Prime Asia-UV (84) - Escocio 21, Arong 18, Calo 12, Abad 9, Mercader 8, Oktubre 8, Saycon 4, Cabanero 3, Perolino 1

Kia Motors/CIT-U (78) - Taboada 15, Menguito 14, Rabaya 13, Batiquin 9, Dimco 9, Baclaan 6, Taghoy 4, Tabalin 4, Gaf 2, Pono 2

Halftime: 32-28 (FREEMAN)