Shell ‘80s repulses JV Shop ’97 Dewfoam ‘88 hands Class ‘96 first loss in CECABA hoopla

CEBU, Philippines - Shell '80s banked on an 8-0 blitz in the closing minutes of the contest to repulse the gritty JV Shop n Shop '97, 69-64, in the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association's 12th Dr. Chen Lieh Fu Memorial Cup last Thursday night at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.

Vaunted streak-shooter Chester Cokaliong fired eight triples of his game-high 25 points as Shell '80's notched its eigth straight win and ninth overall in 11 games. He also had one assist, one rebound and two steals, including a crucial one off Bryan Harry Labus in the dying seconds that helped stall a comeback attempt by Class '97.

It was the ever productive Joel Chan, however, who saved the day for Class '80s in the face of a spirited challenge by Class '97 with his crucial hits in the windup.

Chan finished with 11 points, spotlighted by two meaningful baskets within the five-minute zone of the game that bailed Class '80 out of danger. 

Trailing by three points, 61-64, Chan converted two straight shots underneath the basket off a nifty assists by Wilson Yu to put Class '80 on top for good, 66-64. It was a truly perfect play designed by coach Edito Salacut in that instance, using Chester Cokaliong as a decoy to break down Class '97's defensive stance. Stephen Tan then went 3-of-4 from the foul line to seal the deal for Class '80s.

Chan also grabbed nine rebounds, dished out the same number of assists and had three steals, while S. Tan contributed nine markers, eight rebounds and two steals. Wilson Yu scored only five but had seven rebounds, three assists and two steals for Class '80s, which had to work extra hard after losing a seven-point lead at halftime, 40-33.

Class '80s was still ahead by  six points after three quarters, 55-49, but Class '97's charged back with finesse in the  windup to wrest the driver's seat, 59-61, on a basket by Aubrey Jones Ibones. Class '97 was on top for the last time at 64-61 as the exuberant Class '80s iced the match with eight straight points.

Labus had 10 points and 10 rebounds for Class '97, while Ibones and Denver Dano also charted 10 points apiece but their efforts went for naught as they fell to 6-6.

In the other game, Erwin Yu banged in 15 points on top of three steals, two assists and two rebounds as Dewfoam '88 stunned the previously undefeated First Family Appliance Circle '96, 45-39, to improve its win-loss record to 8-3.

Rex Alison was the lone double-digit scorer with 13 points for Class '96, which saw its nine-game winning streak come to a screeching halt.

The scores

First game

Class '80s (69) - Ches. Cokaliong 25, Chan 11, S. Tan 9, Z. Tan 8, Chris. Cokaliong 6, W. Yu 5, Mendez 3, S. Co 2

Class '97 (64) - Labus 10, Dano 10, Ibones 10,  Sy 6, Uy 6, Delda 6, Tan 5, Yu 4, Maderazo 4, Tan 2, Poligrates 1

Second game

Class '88 (45) - E. Yu 15, Aguilar 9, R. Yu 7, Dy 5, R. Lim 4, Ng 3, Po 2

Class '96 (39) - Alinson 13, Donayre 8, Ang 8, Renejane 3, Ong 3, Babor 2, Lariosa 2 (FREEMAN)